Systems and methods for generating customized avatars and customized online portals

ABSTRACT

In accordance with some embodiments, a system facilitates the generation of a customized fundraising campaign on behalf of a third party organization by providing mechanisms via which an organizer of the third party organization can set terms of the fundraising campaign and allow participants of the campaign to create customized avatars for use in promoting the campaign.

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/356,531, filed on Nov. 18, 2016 in the name of Borchetta et al. andtitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING CUSTOMIZED AVATARS ANDCUSTOMIZED ONLINE PORTALS, which Application is a Continuation-In-PartApplication of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/304,930, filed on Jun. 14,2014 in the name of Borchetta et al. and titled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FORFACILITATING FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS VIA USE OF CUSTOMIZED AVATARS, whichapplication in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/834,918 filed Jun. 14, 2013 in the name of Borchetta et al.,titled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A CUSTOMIZED WEB SITE PORTAL TOFACILITATE FUNDRAISING. The entirety of each of these Applications isincorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION(S)

Embodiments described herein relate to systems, methods and articles ofmanufacture for facilitating a fundraising or awareness campaign tobenefit a third party organization by use of avatars created torepresent members or supporters of the third party organization.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Features, aspects and advantages of various embodiments are described indetail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which areintended to illustrate and not to limit the embodiments. The drawingscomprise the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a system in accordancewith one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a computing device usefulin a system according to one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3 comprises an example table storing data useful in a systemaccording to one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 comprises one example embodiment of a web site interface forfacilitating one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5 comprises one example embodiment of a web site interface forfacilitating one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 6 comprises one example embodiment of a web site interface forfacilitating one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 7 comprises one example embodiment of a web site interface forfacilitating one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 8A comprises one example embodiment of a web site interface forfacilitating one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 8B comprises one example embodiment of a web site interface forfacilitating one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 8C comprises one example embodiment of a web site interface forfacilitating one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 9 comprises one example embodiment of a web site interface forfacilitating one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 10 comprises one example embodiment of a web site interface forfacilitating one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 11 comprises one example embodiment of personalized merchandisewhich may be created in accordance with embodiments described herein.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example process consistent with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an example process consistent with one or moreembodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Applicant has recognized that various organizations (e.g., non-profitorganizations such as schools, scout groups, sports teams, clubs,charities and religious organizations) rely on a volunteer “workforce”for help in raising financial support and awareness for theorganization, its goals and endeavors. For example, some organizationsask its volunteers to raise funding by selling products on behalf of theorganization, requesting donations or pledges in exchange for thevolunteer participating in an activity (e.g., a marathon, biking orwalking event) or simply requesting donations to the organization.Applicant has further recognized that such volunteers are oftenencouraged and relied upon to raise funding and awareness for theorganization by turning to their networks of friends, family, community,colleagues and/or co-workers (collectively their “personal networks”herein). Many organizations recognize that a personal appeal from afriend or family member is significantly more likely to result in adonation or purchase which will raise funding and awareness for theorganization than would an impersonal appeal from the organizationitself. Applicant has still further recognized that many such volunteersdo not have adequate knowledge or resources to maximize theeffectiveness and/or efficiency of their fundraising orawareness-raising campaigns.

Applicant has further recognized that electronic communications aimed atraising funding or awareness for an organization (e.g., e-mail, tweets™,text-messages and/or web-site based messaging), if conveyed in aprofessional and entertaining manner utilizing both the goodwill of theorganization and a personal appeal from a volunteer, may be oneeffective mechanism via which a volunteer of an organization may reachhis/her personal network in an appeal or effort to raise funding and/orawareness for the organization. However, many volunteers lack the time,marketing and technology knowledge, resources or support to producehighly professional and effective electronic communications whichleverage the goodwill of the organization.

Applicant provides herein various systems, articles of manufacture andmethods which converge the resources of the organization (e.g.,technology-savvy personnel, access to high quality graphics and designpersonnel and data, recognizable trademarks, etc.) with the power of apersonal and customized request for support from a volunteer to hispersonal network or that of his family. For example, in accordance withsome embodiments described herein, a system operated by or on behalf ofa service which facilitates fundraising or awareness campaigns on behalfof third party organizations (i.e., organizations which are distinctfrom the entity or service which operates the systems and methodsdescribed herein) helps members or supporters of the third partyorganizations (also referred to as users herein) participate in afundraising or awareness campaign (“campaign” herein) for the thirdparty organization by facilitating the users' marketing efforts inasking their personal networks to donate to the organization, makepledges to the organization or purchase goods or services to support theorganization. In some embodiments, the system may further facilitate thefulfillment of orders placed in response to such marketing efforts.

In accordance with some embodiments, systems, methods and articles ofmanufacture (e.g., non-transitory, computer-readable media) may providefor: (i) outputting to a user a first plurality of opportunities forproviding information, the first plurality of opportunities pertainingto an appearance of the user (e.g., questions about the user's skintone, hair color, eye color, preferred clothing style or articles ofclothing, chosen accessories (trumpet, soccer ball, etc.), etc.); (ii)outputting to the user a second plurality of opportunities for providinginformation, the second plurality of opportunities pertaining to theuser's reasons for participating in the campaign of the third partyorganization (e.g., reasons why the user is a member of the third partyorganization, values the third party organization(s) goals or haslearned from the third party organization); (iii) generating, inresponse to information the user provides for the first plurality ofopportunities, an avatar representing the user; (iv) generating, inresponse to information the user provides for the second plurality ofopportunities, a customized online portal for the user, the onlineportal for use by the user in managing the user's participating in thecampaign (e.g., an online portal comprising a web page to which the usercan send a link to his personal network, and via which web pageindividuals of the personal network may make donations or purchaseproducts to support the third party organization); (v) determining anaward earned by the user in furtherance of the campaign (e.g., an awardthe user earned by meeting certain financial milestones of the campaignor an award the user earned by completing certain activities tocustomize or improve the content of the online portal); and (vi)updating a graphic associated with the avatar to indicate the award(e.g., showing a virtual representation of the award as being worn orheld by the avatar or as being in a virtual room of the avatar, such asa virtual trophy on a shelf).

In accordance with some embodiments, systems, methods and articles ofmanufacture (e.g., non-transitory, computer-readable media) may providefor generating a customized online portal for facilitating a firstuser's efforts to support a third party organization, by providing for:(i) receiving, by an online portal generating controller comprising atleast one processor and operable to communicate with a third partymarketing content server and a plurality of user devices and from afirst user device of a first user, a request to generate a customizedonline portal that features a customized avatar of the first user; (ii)storing in a memory data identifying the first user as a member of thethird party organization; (iii) receiving, over a network and from thefirst user device of the first user, first data for customizingmarketing content, the marketing content being for selling at least oneproduct to at least one recipient, wherein a purchase of the at leastone product is for a benefit to the third party organization; (iv)receiving, over the network and from the marketing content server of thethird party organization, second data that is proprietary marketingcontent of the third party organization; (v) generating a customizedonline portal interface for the customized online portal based on thefirst data received from the first user device; (vi) generating thecustomized avatar of the first user by combining the first data receivedfrom the first user device and the second data received from themarketing content server; (vii) placing the customized avatar into thecustomized online portal interface; (viii) generating a unique URL thatserves as an online address to the customized online portal interface;and (ix) transmitting, over the network, the unique URL to the at leastrecipient on behalf of the first user and the third party organization.

Certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of various embodimentsare described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily allsuch advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particularembodiment of the invention(s) described. Thus, for example, thoseskilled in the art will recognize that embodiments described herein maybe embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage orgroup of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving otheradvantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

Although several embodiments, examples and illustrations are disclosedbelow, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art thatthe invention(s) described herein extend(s) beyond the specificallydisclosed embodiments, examples and illustrations and includes otheruses of the invention(s) and obvious modifications and equivalentsthereof. Embodiments of the invention(s) are described with reference tothe accompanying figures, wherein like numerals refer to like elementsthroughout. The terminology used in the description presented herein isnot intended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive mannersimply because it is being used in conjunction with a detaileddescription of certain specific embodiments of the invention(s). Inaddition, embodiments of the invention(s) can comprise several novelfeatures and it is possible that no single feature is solely responsiblefor its desirable attributes or is essential to practicing theinvention(s) herein described.

Referring now to FIG. 1, illustrated therein is an example system 100consistent with one or more embodiments. The system 100 comprises aFundraising Server 110, a plurality of User Devices 120 and a pluralityof Third Party Organization Servers 130. The system 100 is one exampleembodiment of a system which may be operable to facilitate at least someembodiments described herein.

In accordance with some embodiments, the system 100 may be useful inproviding for a fundraising service (e.g., which may operate theFundraising Server 110) which provides various tools and resources toallow a user who is a member or supporter of a third party organizationto contribute to a campaign of the organization by establishing, throughthe fundraising service, a customized online portal which allows theuser to (i) transmit to specified recipients (e.g., friends and familyof the user) marketing messages (e.g., e-mail messages, text messages,tweets™, social website postings, etc.) which are generated in acustomized format for the user; (ii) sell products or services on behalfof the organization the user is supporting or seek financial ornon-financial donations or other contributions for the organization(which may, in some embodiments, involve the fundraising servicefacilitating the collection of payments and coordination of shipments ofproducts); (iii) earn awards (awards having real-world monetary valueand/or virtual awards) based on activities of the user in furtherance ofthe fundraising campaign; (iv) coordinate the user's fundraising effortswith those of other members or volunteers of the organization; and/or(v) track and promote the user's progress towards goals for thefundraising campaign (e.g., goals self-imposed by the user or set by theorganization).

In accordance with some embodiments, the system 100 may be useful inproviding for a fundraising service (e.g., which may operate theFundraising Server 110) which provides various leaders or representativeof various third party organizations (e.g., school organizers, PTA/PTOrepresentatives, sports team coaches or managers, troop leaders, bandmanagers, representatives of charity organizations) tools and resourcesto allow the leaders or representatives to customize a fundraisingcampaign, through the fundraising service by, for example: (i)outputting a plurality of available choices of goods or services thatmembers or supporters of the organization can sell during the campaign(e.g., magazines, wrapping paper, food items, clothing items, gifts,seasonal items, etc.); (ii) providing a mechanism for setting at leastone predetermined rule for participating in the campaign to be selected(e.g., participants must be registered with the organization or approvedby the organization); (iii) providing a mechanism for setting at leastone predetermined goal to be achieved by a participant of the campaign(e.g., a sales goal); (iv) providing a mechanism for setting at leastone reward to be provided to users or supporters who participate in thecampaign (e.g., real or virtual prizes, such as having the user's avataradded to or maintained in a group image (as described with respect toFIGS. 8A-8C) or earning items to be mailed to the user; and (v)providing a mechanism for selecting other parameters of the campaign(e.g., how purchased items are to be provided to purchasers, what formsof communication a participant may utilize when participating in thecampaign, what forms of payment are accepted, the start and end dates ofthe campaign, etc.). Thus, in some embodiments, the fundraising servicedescribed herein provide a “one stop shopping” opportunity for anorganization that desires to raise funds, which provides to organizers avariety of different items to sell, prizes to be earned, goals to beachieved, etc. In some embodiments, once a leader or organizer of agroup sets up an account with the Fundraising Server 110 for afundraising campaign, the leader or organizer can re-use at least someof the information for different or future campaigns (e.g., the leaderor organizer can select different items to be sold or different prizesto be earned from one campaign to another while re-using previouslyprovided data (e.g., logos, graphics, bank account information) by goingthrough the same fundraising service for different campaigns).

As can be appreciated upon reading the present disclosure, thefundraising service described herein may be useful to variousorganizations which rely on a volunteer or other non-professionalworkforce in order to raise funding and/or awareness. For example, thefundraising service may receive, from a given third party organization,certain content such as trademarks, logos, images, articles, etc. to usein generating a customized online portal, avatar and marketing messagesfor a user. The fundraising service may also, in some embodiments,receive from a given organization, rules or standards of theorganization to be applied to marketing efforts or fundraising orawareness campaigns for the organization. The fundraising service mayalso be operable to apply and apply such rules or standards to anymarketing efforts of a user contributing to the fundraising or awarenesscampaign of the organization. For example, the fundraising service mayapply such rules or standards to any online portal, avatar or marketingmessage generated, hosted or facilitated by the fundraising service(e.g., the fundraising service may ensure that any trademarks and logosof the organization are used in accordance with the instructions forsuch use set by the organization and that inappropriate content is notincluded by the user in marketing efforts of the user for theorganization). The organization may thus benefit from having itsinterests professionally represented in a manner consistent with thegoodwill it has earned and resources it has invested in developing itsbusiness reputation. The organization may further benefit by likelyincreasing the success of a fundraising or awareness campaign whichrelies on a volunteer or other non-professional workforce since themarketing efforts coordinated by the fundraising service, whichincorporate both the content received from the organization and contentreceived from a given user participating in a fundraising or awarenesscampaign for the organization.

In some embodiments, one or more of these User Devices 120 and/orOrganization Servers 130 may be operable to communicate with FundraisingServer 110 via a network 115. The network 115 may comprise, for example,a mobile network such as a cellular, satellite or pager network, theInternet, a wide area network, another network or a combination of suchnetworks. It should be understood that although not shown in FIG. 1,other networks and devices may be in communication with any of thedevices of system 100 and/or that network 115 may comprise two or morenetworks operable to facilitate the routing of communications among thedevices of system 700. For example, in one embodiment, both the Internetand a wireless cellular network may be involved in routingcommunications among two or more components of the system 100.

In some embodiments, additional devices that are not show in FIG. 1 maybe part of a system 100. For example, one or more servers operable toserve as wireless network gateways or routers may be part of system 100.In other embodiments, some of the functionality described herein asbeing performed by Fundraising Server 110 may instead or in addition beperformed by a server of another entity operating on behalf of theFundraising Server 110 (e.g., the fundraising facilitation service whichoperates Fundraising Server 110 may outsource some functionality orotherwise allow some functionality to be performed by servers of otherentities, such as registration of new users or new third partyorganizations, sharing of marketing content on social media sites,authorization of credit card transactions, etc.). In one example, if auser uploads a personal video for use in creating customized marketingcontent for the user, such video may be stored on a server of anotherentity and be accessible by Fundraising Server 110. In another example,marketing content comprising customized e-mails created by FundraisingServer 110 for a user may actually be transmitted to one or morerecipients (e.g., the recipients for which a user provided e-mailaddresses) by a server of another entity with which the entity operatingFundraising Server 110 has contracted for such services. Thus, a serverof another entity may be a part of system 100 or otherwise be operableto communicate with Fundraising Server 110. It should be understood thatany of the functionality described herein as being performed by theFundraising Server 110 may in some embodiments be performed by suchserver of another entity.

The Fundraising Server 110 may comprise one or more computing devices,working in parallel or series if more than one, operable to facilitatethe user's efforts in contributing to a fundraising or awarenesscampaign for an organization by appealing (e.g., for the purchase ofproducts or donations to benefit the organization) to the user'spersonal network. The Fundraising Server 110 may be operated by or onbehalf of an entity which offers services to facilitate such efforts ofvarious users on behalf of one or more organizations in accordance withembodiments described herein. As described herein, the FundraisingServer 110 may be operable, in accordance with some embodiments, to (i)communicate with a User Device 110 (e.g., receive login credentials fromthe User Device, receive a selection of information for use incustomizing an avatar for a user, receive information for use incustomizing an online portal for the user, receiving contact informationfor a plurality of recipients to whom the user desires to transmit anappeal for the fundraising campaign, transmit a link to the customizedonline portal, etc.); (ii) generate, manage and/or update an appearanceof an avatar for a user and/or content for a customized online portalfor use by the user in managing participation in a fundraising campaignfor an organization; and/or (iii) communicate with an OrganizationServer 130 (e.g., to receive data or information from one or moreOrganization Server1 130). Such information may comprise, for examplecontent such as trademarks of the organization for use in creating anavatar and customized online portal for facilitating a fundraisingcampaign of the organization. The Fundraising Server 110 may further beoperable to transmit data to one or more Organization Servers 130, suchas data indicating progress of various users in their efforts tocontribute to a campaign of the organization and/or data regardingsuccess levels of respective users participating in the campaign, etc.

A User Device 120 may comprise a computing device associated with a userparticipating in a campaign for a third party organization or otherwiseutilizing the services of the Fundraising Server 110. For example, aUser Device 120 may comprise a personal computer such as a desktop,laptop or tablet computer, a cellular telephone or a smartphone or othermobile device. A User Device 120 may be operable, in accordance withsome embodiments, communicate with the Fundraising Server 110 to (i) login to the Fundraising Server 110 (e.g., to register, access a customizedonline portal for managing the user's participating in a campaign for athird party organization which is hosted by the Fundraising Server 110and/or provide updated content for the customized online portal); (ii)receive an information address from the Fundraising Server 110 (e.g., aURL or link to the customized online portal hosted by the FundraisingServer 110, for transmission of customized marketing information torecipients); (iii) receive other information from the Fundraising Server110 (e.g., rewards earned by the user, available content for inclusionin the user's customized online portal, an update on a progress of theuser's participation in the campaign, etc.).

It should be noted that, in accordance with some embodiments, a userparticipating in a campaign of a third party organization may createcustomized marketing content by creating, via one or more modules orfeatures of the Fundraising Server 110, an avatar (e.g., customized torepresent the user based on information provided by the user, and insome embodiments further customized based on awards earned by the user)which is included in the marketing content. The marketing content maycomprise, for example, a personalized online portal (e.g., an onlinestore comprising one or more personalized web pages associated with theuser), an e-mail message or other message and/or traditional postalmailings. Such marketing content may be transmitted by the user directly(e.g., the user may send an e-mail message which includes a link or URLgenerated by the Fundraising Server 110 to the user's personalizedonline portal). Alternatively, the marketing content may be transmittedby the Fundraising Server 110 (or another server or service operated byor one behalf of the same entity which operates the Fundraising Server110). The marketing content may be transmitted to one or more recipientsassociated with the user (e.g., friends or family of the user, based one-mail and/or postal addresses or other contact information for suchrecipients as indicated by the user).

A Third Party Organization Server 130 may comprise one or more computingdevices, working in parallel or series if more than one, operable tocommunicate information to or from the Fundraising Server 110. Suchinformation may comprise, for example, (i) content such as trademarks,logos, images or videos to be used in marketing efforts of a user (e.g.,marketing content customized for the user) on behalf of an organization;(ii) rules or standards to apply to marketing content created on behalfof the user in support of a campaign of the organization; (iii)information defining a duration or goals (e.g., financial goals) of acampaign, to be used in managing or guiding the marketing efforts ofusers on behalf of the organization; (iv) awards available from theorganization for meeting predefined goals by users contributing to acampaign of the organization; (v) financial information (e.g., afinancial account identifier for an account into which funds collectedfor the organization by users via the fundraising server are to bedeposited); and (vi) information or instructions for how orders placed(e.g., for the purchase of products the sale of which is for the benefitof the organization) by recipients via online portals of users are to beforwarded to the organization or another entity as directed by theorganization (e.g., a fulfillment center or distributor of the productspurchased). In accordance with some embodiments, an Third PartyOrganization Server 130 may comprise a server of a non-profitorganization or group whose members serve as volunteers who participatein a campaign for the organization by appealing to their personalnetwork for donations or purchases which raise funding and awareness forthe organization.

It should be noted that whenever information is described as being“transmitted” to a device of system 100 or other systems describedherein, it is intended to encompass both a “push” embodiment in whichthe information is pro-actively pushed or output to the device byanother device and a “pull” embodiment in which the device contactsanother device in order to query for any updated information or changesin information.

In some embodiments, any of the components 110, 120 and 130 maycommunicate with one another directly or indirectly, via a wired orwireless medium such as the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet, Token Ring,or via any appropriate communications means or combination ofcommunications means. For example, in one embodiment communication amongany and all of the devices of system 100 may occur over the Internetthrough a Web site maintained by computer on a remote server or over anon-line data network including commercial on-line service providers,bulletin board systems and the like. In some embodiments, communicationamong any of the components of system 100 may occur over radio signals,cellular networks, cable network, satellite links and the like.

The system 100 may be operable to facilitate communication using knowncommunication protocols. Possible communication protocols that may beuseful in the system 100 include, but are not limited to: Ethernet (orIEEE 802.3), ATP, BLUETOOTH, SMPP Protocol (e.g., SMPP Protocol Version3.4), HTTP, HTTPS, and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol(TCP/IP). Communications may be encrypted to ensure privacy and preventfraud in any of a variety of ways well known in the art, some of whichare described herein.

It should be understood that any or all of the devices of system 100 mayin some embodiments comprise one or more of (i) an input device; (ii) anoutput device; (iii) an input/output device; or (iv) a combinationthereof.

An input device, as the term is used herein, may be any device, elementor component (or combination thereof) that is capable of receiving aninput (e.g., from a user or another device). An input device maycommunicate with or be part of another device. Some examples of inputdevices include: a bar-code scanner, a magnetic stripe reader, acomputer keyboard or keypad, a button (e.g., mechanical,electromechanical or “soft”, as in a portion of a touch-screen), ahandle, a keypad, a touch-screen, a microphone, an infrared sensor, avoice recognition module, a coin or bill acceptor, a sonic ranger, acomputer port, a video camera, a motion detector, a digital camera, anetwork card, a universal serial bus (USB) port, a GPS receiver, a radiofrequency identification (RFID) receiver, an RF receiver, a thermometer,a pressure sensor, an infrared port, and a weight scale.

An output device may comprise any device, component or element (or acombination thereof) operable to output information from any of thedevices described herein. Examples of an output device include, but arenot limited to, a display (e.g., in the form of a touch screen), anaudio speaker, an infra-red transmitter, a radio transmitter, anelectric motor, a dispenser, an infra-red port, a Braille computermonitor, and a coin or bill dispenser.

An input/output device may comprise components capable of facilitatingboth input and output functions. In one example, a touch-sensitivedisplay screen comprises an input/output device (e.g., the deviceoutputs graphics and receives selections from an authorized person).

Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrated therein is a computer system 200,which may be useful for implementing one or more embodiments describedherein. For example, the computer system 200 may, according to someembodiments, be configured to marketing content (e.g., a customizedavatar, one or more customized web pages featuring the avatar and/or oneor more e-mail messages featuring the avatar) for a campaign associatedwith a particular third party organization using (i) informationprovided by a user; and (ii) information provided by the third partyorganization. The system 200 may be implemented using one or moreprocessors, such as processor 201, in conjunction with one or moretangible computer readable storage medium devices, such as memory device203. The operations described herein may be divided across a pluralityof computing systems, and are shown to reside in a single processingdevice of FIG. 2 so as to simplify the description. The computer system200 may, for example, be operated by or on behalf of an entity whichfacilitates marketing efforts in furtherance of third partyorganizations by communicating with (i) one or more users and (ii) oneor more third party organizations. In one embodiment, system 200 maycomprise the Fundraising Server 110 of system 100 (FIG. 1).

In some embodiments, additional devices or components that are not shownin FIG. 2 may be part of a system for facilitating marketing contentcreated to help users support campaigns for third party organizations,as described herein. For example, one or more servers operable to serveas wireless network gateways or routers may be part of such a system. Inother embodiments, some of the functionality described herein as beingperformed by system 200 may alternatively or in addition be performed bya third party server operating on behalf of the system 200 (e.g., theentity operating the Fundraising Server 110 may outsource somefunctionality, such as registration of new users, fulfillment of orders,collecting of payments or outputting of marketing messages). Thus, athird party server may be a part of a system, such as that illustratedin FIG. 2. It should be understood that any of the functionalitydescribed herein as being performed by the system 200 may in someembodiments be performed by such a third party server. For example, oneor more of the functions or processes described herein as beingperformed by system 200 or a component thereof (e.g., a module orsoftware application of system 200) may be implemented with the use ofone or more cloud-based servers which, in one embodiment, may beoperated by or with the help of a third party distinct from the entityto which users and third party organizations provide information inorder to create customized marketing content in furtherance of campaignsto benefit the third party organizations. In other words, while in someembodiments the computerized system 200 may be implemented on serversthat are maintained by or on behalf of a particular company or businesswhich helps create such customized marketing content, in otherembodiments the system 200 may at least partially be implemented usingother arrangements, such as in a cloud-computing environment, forexample.

The computer system shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2 includes adatabase 202, which may store one or more of the following: (i)organization accounts data records 204, which may include informationfor third party organizations for which the computer system 200facilitates campaigns; (ii) user accounts data records 206, which mayinclude information for users who utilize the services facilitated bycomputer system 200 to participate in one or more campaigns for one ormore third party organizations; (iii) campaign meta-data data records208, which may include general information (i.e., not specific to anyparticular user or specific group of users, such as a particular classin a school, a team in a sports organization or a troop or den in ascout organization) for one or more campaigns being facilitated bycomputer system 200; (iv) user campaign status data records 210, whichmay include information specific to a user or particular group of usersand a status of a campaign in which the user or group of users isparticipating; and (v) avatar data records 212, which may includeinformation pertaining to the creation of customized avatars (e.g., dataregarding options for customizing an appearance of an avatar, which mayin some cases be specific to a particular third party organization).

The organization accounts data records 204 may comprise, for example, arespective record for each third party organization which participatesin the services facilitated by system 200. Each record may store, forexample, (i) contact information for a representative of the third partyorganization; (ii) identifiers for members or groups associated with thethird party organization (e.g., if the third party organization is asports organization, this information may comprise information on one ormore teams, the coaches of the teams and the players on the teams whileif the third party organization is a scout organization, thisinformation may comprise information on the troops, dens or packs of theorganization, the leaders and the scouts associated with each leader);(iii) payment account data (e.g., an identifier or credentials forproviding payment to or receiving payment from the third partyorganization); and (iii) rules or conditions for use of any logos,trademarks or other property of the third party organization inmarketing content created by the system 200.

The user account data records 206 may comprise, for example, arespective record for each user who participates in one or morecampaigns of one or more third party organizations through the servicesfacilitated by system 200. Each record may store, for example, (i) aname of a user; (ii) contact information for the user; (iii) a uniqueidentifier for the user as assigned, generated or used by system 200 touniquely identify the user; (iv) information for a parent or guardian ofthe user if the user is a minor; (v) an identifier of one or more thirdparty organizations with which the user is associated (e.g., anidentifier of one or more employers, charities, sports teams, classesand/or scout groups with which the user is associated); (vi) anidentifier of one or more groups within a third party organization withwhich the user is associated (e.g., if the user is a student of aparticular school, the user's particular class and/or teacher may beidentified; if the user is a scout, the user's troop and/or leader maybe identified); (vii) an identifier of one or more particular campaignsthe user has or is participating in; (viii) an indication of one or moreawards (virtual or otherwise) the user has earned or is in the processof earning (which awards may be specific to a particular third partyorganization in some embodiments); and (ix) data identifying orrepresenting a customized avatar or other representation of a user whichhas been created for the user by the system 200. In some embodiments, atleast some data stored in a record of a user may be persistent andusable in more than one campaign or for more than one third partyorganization. For example, an avatar created for the user based oninformation about the user's appearance may be associated with the userand an indication or identifier of that avatar may be stored in theuser's record, such that it can be repurposed or reusable for differentcampaigns.

In some embodiments, an avatar created for a specific user may bemodified for different campaigns or different third party organizations.For example, an avatar created for a user may be shown as wearing auniform of a first third party organization when it is used in marketingcontent for a campaign of the first third party organization but may beshown as wearing a different uniform or apparel (e.g., a scout uniform)when it is used in marketing content for a campaign of a second thirdparty organization which the same user is participating in. Similarly,any awards earned by the user in participating in a first campaign maybe shown on the uniform or other apparel of the avatar when it is beingrepresented in marketing content for that first campaign but may beremoved from the uniform or other apparel of the avatar when it is beingrepresented in marketing content for a different campaign. In someembodiments, the user account data record of a particular user may beaccessible via stored login credentials (e.g., user name and password).Such login credentials may be used, for example, by the user, a parentof a user (e.g., if the user is a minor) and/or another permitted personto modify and access the data in the user record. In some embodiments,data of a user (e.g., avatar data) may be provide to a user for use inother systems or transmitted so systems of other entities for use (e.g.,at the user's request, data comprising an avatar created for the usermay be transmitted to another entity's system for use in games, onmerchandise, etc.). An example of a record of the user account datarecords 206 is illustrated in FIG. 3A.

In some embodiments, a user may give permission to the fundraisingservice to have his/her avatar used for purposes other than afundraising campaign. For example, an avatar may be utilized inmaterials, documents, marketing messages or videos used to train personsassociated with campaigns (e.g., parents of school children, team, groupor troop members; volunteers; students; organization leaders ororganizers; etc.). In some embodiments, when an avatar of a particularuser is utilized for such purposes the avatar may be used anonymously(i.e., in a manner that does not provide the identity of the user whocreated the avatar, such as the user's name). In some embodiments, theuse of an avatar (whether for purposes within a campaign such as inmarketing messages sent to recipients by a user or for other (e.g.,training) purposes, may include functionality such as providinganimation or a voice for the avatar.

The campaign meta-data data records 208 may comprise, for example, arecord for each respective campaign of a third party organization whichis facilitated by the system 200. For example, if the third partyorganization is a school, each fundraising campaign for the school mayhave its own record in the campaign meta-data records 208. If a thirdparty organization is associated with more than one campaign (whetherrunning simultaneously or otherwise), some data which is applicable tothe more than one campaign may be duplicated, stored or accessible foreach record of each respective campaign. The data stored in a campaignmeta-data record may be any data which is generally applicable to anygroup or user participating in the campaign, such as goals or purpose ofthe campaign, products available for purchase during the campaign,fulfillment entities responsible for fulfilling purchases made insupport of the campaign, awards (virtual or real-world) which may beearned by a user participating in the campaign (and, for example, thecorresponding condition(s) for earning each respective award), contactinformation for an authorized person of the third party organizationregarding questions on the campaign, etc. For example, the third partyorganization may set criteria or parameters for a fundraising campaign,such as sales dates, controls for questions to be filled out by usersand/or recipients (e.g., in creating custom marketing content), upload adefault video or photo to be used in marketing content (e.g., if userelects not to upload a video or photo of their own), permissions orlimitations for users to provide certain content (e.g., photos, videos,links to other websites, etc.).

In one embodiment, the third party organization may provide to thesystem 200 information about sub-groups or groups of users authorized bythe third party organization to participate in a campaign and suchinformation may be stored in a campaign meta-data data record 208. Forexample, the third party organization may provide the names or otheridentifiers of user, a name or other identifier of a particular group ofusers (e.g., a scout troop number, a classroom, a team, etc.), a name orother identifier for one or more leaders of a particular group of users(e.g., a scout leader, a principal or teacher of a school, a coach of ateam, a leader of a work-group team, etc.). Information on suchindividuals may also include contact information (e.g., e-mailaddresses, telephone numbers) and/or login credentials. For example, inone embodiment the third party organization may provide or cause acreation of a user name and password for each authorized user authorizedto participate in the campaign, which may be separately provided to therespective user for use in accessing a website of the service whichfacilitates campaigns of third party organizations by creating custommarketing content such as avatars or custom online portals, as describedherein. In one embodiment, the third party organization providing datato the system 200 may contact the users authorized to participate in acampaign via the system 200 by e-mailing them information (e.g., a linkor other information for accessing a website of the service operatingsystem 200).

The user campaign status data 210 may comprise, for example, a recordfor each respective campaign being participated in by a particular user.Thus, when a user accesses system 200 (or a service operated by anentity which operates system 200) to create custom marketing content forparticipating in a campaign of a third party, a record for that user'sparticipation in that particular campaign may be created and stored. Arecord comprising user campaign status data 210 may comprise, forexample, one or more of (i) an identifier of the user; (ii) anidentifier of the campaign in which the user is participating; (iii) anidentifier of a group of users with which the user is affiliated (e.g.,a scout troop or den number, a team identifier, a school or classroomidentifier, etc.); (iv) identifiers of one or more other users withwhich the user is associated (e.g., identifiers of one or more uses whoare also members of the same scout troop or den, on the same team, inthe same classroom, etc.); (v) goals associated with the user'sparticipation in the campaign (e.g., sales goals set by the third partyorganization, the user, or a leader associated with a group of which theuser is a member); (v) awards earned by the user (e.g., virtual orreal-world); (vi) customization choices made by the user (e.g., formarketing content, such as appearance of an avatar representing theuser, or e-mail messages for recipients; or for a location of the avatar(e.g., appearance of a virtual room or locker with which the avatar isoutput to the user); (vii) information for one or more recipients, asprovided by the user for transmission of marketing content in support ofthe campaign; (viii) an indication of sales, donations or pledges madeby recipients in support of the user's participation in the campaign;and (ix) an indication of the user's progress or status in the campaign.An example of a record of the user campaign status data records 210 isillustrated in FIG. 3B.

The avatar data records 212 may comprise, for example, a record for eachrespective avatar created by a user and/or data useful for providingchoices to a user who is creating an avatar. For example, in oneembodiment the avatar data records 212 store data comprising acustomized avatar created for a user based on selections made by theuser (e.g., hair color, skin tone, hair style, body shape, apparel,etc.) and awards earned by the user (e.g., in some embodiments an avatarof a user may represent an award earned by the user in the form of amedal, patch, pin or other indicator which may be worn by the avatar).In some embodiments, the avatar data records 212 may also storetemplates or data choices for customizing an avatar (e.g., as providedby a third party organization). For example, for third partyorganization A which comprises a sports team, the avatar choices mayinclude a choice of sports jersey (e.g., different colors, length ofsleeves, etc.) and jersey number while for third party organization Bwhich comprises a scout group, the avatar choices may include choice ofuniform pieces, uniform colors, hats, belt loops, patches, etc.

The database 202 may, for example, be implemented using any well-knowndatabase management systems, including Microsoft SQL, Oracle, IBM DB2,etc. It should be noted that in some embodiments, database 202 (or atleast some of the data described as being stored therein) may be storedin memory 203 and/or in another memory device accessible to the memory203 and/or to processor 201. For example, in one embodiment database 202(or at least some of the data described as being stored therein) may bestored in a memory of a third party server, such as a server of acloud-based computing service with which a company (e.g., a companywhich facilitates the campaigns of third party organizations which arebeing participated in by one or more users) may contract for purposes ofstoring data.

In accordance with some embodiments, the system 200 may further compriseone or more modules, programs, or processor instructions for performingat least some of the functionalities described herein. In the exampleembodiment of FIG. 2, the system 200 may further comprise one or moresoftware module(s) 220-224 for directing the processor 201 to performcertain functions. In accordance with some embodiments, softwarecomponents, applications, routines or sub-routines, or sets ofinstructions for causing one or more processors to perform certainfunctions may be referred to as “modules”. It should be noted that suchmodules, or any software or computer program referred to herein, may bewritten in any computer language and may be a portion of a monolithiccode base, or may be developed in more discrete code portions, such asis typical in object-oriented computer languages. In addition, themodules, or any software or computer program referred to herein, may insome embodiments be distributed across a plurality of computerplatforms, servers, terminals, and the like. For example, a given modulemay be implemented such that the described functions are performed byseparate processors and/or computing hardware platforms. Further,although certain functionality may be described as being performed by aparticular module, such description should not be taken in a limitingfashion. In other embodiments, functionality described herein as beingperformed by a particular module may instead (or additionally) beperformed by a different module, program, sub-routine or computingdevice without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention(s)described herein.

It should be understood that any of the software module(s) or computerprograms illustrated therein may be part of a single program orintegrated into various programs for controlling processor 101. Further,any of the software module(s) or computer programs illustrated thereinmay be stored in a compressed, uncompiled, and/or encrypted format andinclude instructions which, when performed by the processor 101, causethe processor 101 to operate in accordance with at least some of themethods described herein. Of course, additional and/or differentsoftware module(s) or computer programs may be included and it should beunderstood that the example software module(s) illustrated and describedwith respect to FIG. 1 are not necessary in any embodiments. Use of theterm “module” is not intended to imply that the functionality describedwith reference thereto is embodied as a stand-alone or independentlyfunctioning program or application. While in some embodimentsfunctionality described with respect to a particular module may beindependently functioning, in other embodiments such functionality isdescribed with reference to a particular module for ease or convenienceof description only and such functionality may in fact be a part ofintegrated into another module, program, application, or set ofinstructions for directing a processor of a computing device.

According to an embodiment, the instructions of any or all of thesoftware module(s) or programs described with respect to FIG. 2 may beread into a main memory from another computer-readable medium, such froma ROM to RAM. Execution of sequences of the instructions in the softwaremodule(s) or programs causes processor 201 to perform at least some ofthe process steps or functionalities described herein. In alternateembodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of, or incombination with, software instructions for implementation of theprocesses of the embodiments described herein. Thus, the embodimentsdescribed herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardwareand software.

In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a data assembly module220 is illustrated as communicating with (i) the memory 202, (ii) amarketing module 222 and (iii) a custom portal module 224. The modules220 - 224 are illustrated as being accessible to processor 201 toimplement one or more embodiments described herein. As described, one ormore of the modules 220, 222 and 224 may be operable to utilize at leastsome of the data stored in database 202. Further, in accordance withsome embodiments, one or more of the modules 220, 222 and 224 may beoperable to retrieve, manipulate, select, and/or otherwise determinedata that is transmitted to and stored in database 202.

Data assembly module 220 may, in accordance with some embodiments,operate to manipulate the data from database 202 into appropriaterecords for processing by the marketing module 222 and by the customportal module 224. For example, data assembly module 220 may be operableto create a custom avatar and/or other marketing content (e.g., such asa custom online portal and e-mail messages), based on some of datastored in a first record or entry of database 202 (e.g., based on datain the user accounts data records 206 and avatar data records 212), andtransmit an indication of the custom avatar and/or other marketingcontent for storage in another record or entry in the database 202(e.g., for entry in a user campaign status data records 210) and/or totransmit such data for use by marketing module 222 and custom portalmodule 224.

In accordance with some embodiments, the marketing module 222 may beoperable to create and facilitate marketing content using at least somedata stored in memory 202. For example, in one embodiment, marketingmodule 222 may be operable to create a customized avatar or otherrepresentation of a user. For example, avatar data received from a thirdparty organization (e.g., available uniforms or insignia) associatedwith a particular campaign being participated in by the user may becombined with personal data provided by the user regarding the user'sappearance (e.g., hair color, skin tone, hair style, eye shape andcolor, etc.) to create a customized avatar for the user.

In some embodiments, various emojis, pictograms or virtual stickers maybe made available to users for creating marketing messages for acampaign. In some embodiments, such emojjis, pictograms or virtualstickers may be customized for or by the third party organizationcorresponding to the fundraising campaign (e.g., if the fundraisingcampaign is for a sports team that has a tiger as a mascot, tiger-faceemojis, pictograms or virtual stickers may be generated or madeavailable for users). In some embodiments, an organizer of a campaignmay be provided with tools for selecting or customizing emojis,pictograms or virtual stickers to be made available to participants ofthe campaign. In some embodiments, the use of such emojiis, pictogramsor virtual stickers may need to be earned (e.g., by satisfying one ormore corresponding conditions that an organizer of the campaign mayset). For example, a user may be provided with an option to customizemarketing messages such as e-mails, text messages or his/herpersonalized online portal with such emojis, pictograms or virtualstickers. In some embodiments, a user may be provided with a mechanismto customize his/her own emoji, pictogram or virtual sticker. Forexample, the user may be allowed to customize an emoji, pictogram orvirtual sticker to reflect a characteristic of the user, such as skintone, hair or wearing glasses and/or to reflect a characteristic of theorganization associated with a fundraising campaign (e.g., to include abaseball hat with the logo of a team, if the organization comprises asports team). In some embodiments, the marketing module 222 may storeone or more files (or addresses or other indications of such files)comprising one or more emojis, pictograms or virtual stickers that areavailable for at least one campaign.

In some embodiments, as additional campaign status data is received orupdated in user campaign status data records 210 the data assemblymodule 220 may communicate an indication of such new or modified data toone or more of the marketing module 222 and the custom portal module224. For example, as a user achieves a sales goal based on purchasesmade by recipients due to the user's marketing efforts the user may earna virtual award and an indication of such earned virtual award may beincorporated into the customized online portal created by the customportal module 224. In one particular illustrative example, an identifierof a particular campaign a user is participating in may be stored in arecord of the user campaign status data records 210. An availablevirtual award and the criteria for earning the virtual award may also bestored in the record (or, in some embodiments, in a record of thecampaign meta-data records 208). Thus, as purchases are made byrecipients via the user's customized online portal it may be determinedbased on the criteria that the user has earned the virtual award. Anindication of the user earning the virtual award may be communicated tothe custom portal module 224 by the data assembly module 220 and theuser's customized online portal may be updated to reflect the earnedaward. For example, a representation of the user's earned virtual awardmay be indicated in a location of the avatar (e.g., a virtual room orvirtual locker) generated for the user or may be indicated in additionaltext included in a page of the online portal or e-mail messagestransmitted to recipients. Similarly, in some embodiments, an appearanceof the avatar created for the user may be modified (e.g., by themarketing module 222) based on an indication that the user has earned avirtual award. For example, apparel of the avatar may be modified toshow a medal or patch representing the virtual award. Of course, asdescribed herein, in some embodiments real-world awards may be earned bya user as a result of the user's participation in a campaign (e.g., theuser may earn a physical patch, monetary or other prize which may bemailed or otherwise provided to the user). In such embodiments, anindication of the real-world award earned by the user may also beindicated to the user and/or recipients via the user's customized onlineportal and/or the appearance of the avatar or other representation ofthe user.

In some embodiments, marketing module 222 may further be operable tofacilitate usage of marketing content created for a user, such as acustomized avatar or other representation of a user, along with otherdata, in creating marketing content such as e-mail messages (e.g., usinga personalized paragraph or other text provided by user). In someembodiments, marketing module 222 may be operable to facilitate a usersharing marketing content using social media (e.g., post messagesincluding the avatar or another representation of the user to sites suchas FACEBOOK™, TWITTER™, TUMBLR™ or GOOGLE+™). In some embodiments,marketing module 222 may be operable to prepare marketing content forprinting (e.g., personalized sales flyers, letters or brochures).

In some embodiments, a user may upload a photo, video or other content(which, for example, may be stored in the user account data records 206or, if it is specific to a particular campaign the user is participatingin, in the user campaign status data records 210 if provided for use ina particular campaign) and such photo, video or other content may alsobe passed to and utilized by marketing module 222 in creating marketingcontent. Similarly, in some embodiments a third party organization mayupload a photo, video or other content for inclusion in marketingcontent created for a user who is participating in a campaign of thethird party organization. Such content uploaded by a user or third partyorganization may be stored in memory 202 (e.g., in a record oforganization account data records 204, if usable in more than onecampaign, or in a record of user campaign meta-data data records 208, ifuploaded for use in a particular campaign of the third partyorganization).

The custom portal module 224 may, in accordance with some embodiments,be operable to utilize data from memory 202 (and, in some embodimentsdata created by marketing module 222, such as the custom avatar or otherrepresentation of a user created for a user) to create a customizedonline portal. A customized online portal may comprise, for example, oneor more web pages created for the purpose of allowing the user toparticipate in a campaign of a particular third party by allowingrecipients specified by the user (e.g., recipients of customized e-mailscreated and transmitted via marketing module 222) to purchase productsor otherwise support the campaign (e.g., make donations or pledges tothe third party organization associated with the campaign) using linksor other functionality on the one or more web pages. In someembodiments, the customized online portal may include data from thememory 202 such as (i) group information (e.g., school information,classroom information, scout group information, etc., of the groupassociated with the user for whom the customized online portal is beingcreated); (ii) third party organization information (e.g., logos,trademarks, descriptions of the third party organization); (iii) acustomized message from the user (e.g., whether in text, video or audioform); (iv) one or more goals associated with the user (e.g., a personalsales or pledge goal set by the user and/or a group with which the useris associated); and/or (v) an indication of one or more goals or awardsearned by the user as a result of recipients supporting the campaignbeing participated in by the user.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, each of these figures illustrates arespective table, each table comprising an example structure and samplecontents of a database or portion of a database (e.g., a record of adatabase) that may be useful in some embodiments. In particular, theexample tables represented in any of FIGS. 3A and 3B may be useful infacilitating a user's utilization of services provided by an entitywhich creates customized marketing content (e.g., customized avatars orother representations of a user, customized online portals, etc.) foraiding a user's support and participating in one or more campaigns ofone or more third party organizations (a “User Fundraising Service”herein). In accordance with some embodiments, table 300A illustrated inFIG. 3A may comprise an example of a record of the user account datarecords 206 (FIG. 2) and table 300B in FIG. 3B may comprise an exampleof a record of the user campaign status data records 210 (FIG. 2).

The data and fields of the tables 300A and 300B can be readily modified,for example, to include more or fewer data fields. A single database ortable that is a combination of multiple databases or tables, or aconfiguration that utilizes multiple databases or table for a singledatabase or table illustrated herein may also be employed. In thedatabases of FIGS. 3A and FIG. 3B, a different reference numeral isemployed to identify each field. However, in at least one embodiment,fields that are similarly named (e.g., a user identifier) may storesimilar or the same data in a similar or in the same data format.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the schematicillustration and accompanying descriptions of data contained in thesample tables presented herein is an exemplary arrangement for storedrepresentations of information. Any number of other arrangements may beemployed besides those suggested by the tables shown. For example, theembodiments described herein could be practiced effectively using moreor fewer functionally equivalent databases or tables. Similarly, theillustrated entries of the databases or tables represent exemplaryinformation only; those skilled in the art will understand that thenumber and content of the entries can be different from thoseillustrated herein. Further, despite the depiction of the databases astables, an object-based model could be used to store and manipulate thedata types of one or more embodiments and likewise, object methods orbehaviors can be used to implement the processes of one or moreembodiments.

Turning now to FIG. 3A in particular, illustrated therein is a table300A, defining information for a user who may participate in one or morecampaigns of one or more third party organizations as described herein.The information in a record such as that illustrated in table 300A maybe received, determined, generated and/or store, for example, when auser first requests or agrees to establish an account with the system200. Further, the information in a record such as that illustrated intable 300A may comprise information which may be utilized or repurposedfor more than one campaign and/or for supporting more than one thirdparty organization (e.g., the list of recipients and contact informationfor each recipient need only be entered by a user once and then re-usedand accessed for more than one campaign in which the user participates).

The record 300A comprises a plurality of fields, each field storing dataassociated with a particular user. In particular, the record 300Acomprises (i) a user identifier field 302A, which stores an identifierfor uniquely identifying the user (e.g., an alphanumeric identifiergenerated by the system 200 or selected by the user or a group leader);(ii) a campaign identifier 304A, which stores a respective uniqueidentifier for each campaign the user has or is participating in (inaccordance with some embodiments, a campaign identifier may uniquelyidentify a campaign which has or is being facilitated by the system 200and may correspond to a record of the campaign meta-data data records208A, which may store additional data on the particular campaign); (iii)a login credentials field 306A, which may store a user name and passwordwhich the user (or another authorized person, such as the user'sguardian if the user is a minor) to access and modify data associatedwith the user; (iv) an avatar identifier field 308A, which stores anidentifier uniquely identifying the avatar or other representation ofthe user created by the system 200 for the user (e.g., based oninformation or selections provided by the user) and which may serve as(or have stored in association therewith) a data file comprising theavatar; and (v) a recipient identifier(s) field 310A which stores atleast one recipient identifier for each recipient input by the user (arecipient comprising a person to whom marketing content may betransmitted; in some embodiments the recipient identifier may beuniquely generated by the system 200 while in others it may comprise ane-mail address, nickname or other indicated provided by the user).

Of course, additional or different information associated with a usermay be stored in a user record. For example, an indication of one ormore groups of a third party organization of which the user is a membermay be stored (e.g., the user's troop or den number if the user is ascout and/or an indication of a team of which the user is a member). Itshould be noted that, in accordance with one embodiment, the avataridentifier stored in field 308A may comprise an identifier of a defaultavatar created for the user (e.g., based on information provided by theuser about the user's physical appearance) but without any specificindicators, insignia or apparel (e.g., uniforms) of any particular thirdparty organization. In accordance with some embodiments, such a defaultavatar may be created such that it may be repurposes for differentcampaigns of different third party organizations (e.g., by adding auniform specific to the third party organization to the image of theavatar) and such a further customized avatar file may be stored under adifferent identifier or within a record of the user campaign status datarecords 210 (FIG. 2 and FIG. 3B).

In accordance with some embodiments, a user's avatar may be stored bythe Fundraising Server 110 for use in future campaigns. In someembodiments, different versions of a user's avatar may be stored. Forexample, a user may create a first version of an avatar for use in afirst campaign (e.g., an avatar wearing a sports jersey, for a campaignto support the user's sports team) and a second version of an avatar foruse in a second campaign (e.g., the avatar wearing a scout troopuniform, for a campaign to support the user's scout troop). Thus, when auser logs in and begins to participate in a new campaign, the user canselect which version of his/her avatar he would like to use (or create anew version). In some embodiments, a “photo album” of the differentversions of the user's avatar may be generated by the system. Such aphoto album may be a virtual photo album (which may, in someembodiments, be accessible via a user interface such as that illustratedin FIGS. 8A-8C, such as by selecting a virtual photo album off a shelfin the avatar's virtual room) or a tangible printed photo album that maybe printable by the user or mailed to the user. In some embodiments,different versions of the user's avatar may represent the user atdifferent ages. For example, if the user continues to use thefundraising service over a period of years beginning when the user is achild, the avatar may reflect the changes in the user over the years(e.g., the avatar may become taller, have different hairstyles, getglasses, etc.). In other words, the user may create different versionsof his/her avatar to reflect any physical changes in the user over time.In some embodiments, if the user agrees, the Fundraising Server 110 maystore these various versions of the user's avatar and/or generate aphoto album, slide show, video or other representation to illustrate howthe user and thus the user's avatar has changed over time.

Referring now to FIG. 3B, illustrated therein is a table 300B, defininginformation for a user's participation in a particular campaign of athird party organization. The information in a record such as thatillustrated in table 300B may be received, determined, generated and/orstored, for example, when a user first indicates his/her participationin a particular campaign of a third party (and, in some embodiments, isauthorized to so participate based on information received from thethird party organization or another person such as a leader of a groupauthorized to participate in the campaign). The information stored inrecord 300B may be used to track the user's progress or status in thecampaign such that certain marketing content may be updated (e.g.,dynamically updated based on changes in the information or periodicallybased on scheduled analysis of the information). For example, any of thefollowing may be updated based on changes to the information stored inrecord 310B: (i) an appearance of an avatar may be updated (e.g.,medals, patches or uniforms may be added or modified), (ii) anappearance of a virtual location associated with the avatar may beupdated (e.g., trophies or other virtual awards may be added to avirtual room or virtual locker of the avatar), (iii) information outputto recipients in a custom online portal or e-mail message may be updated(e.g., how close the user is to meeting a sales goal may be updated asset out on a web page); and (iv) a group image of the user's avatar andavatar's of other associated users may be updated as avatars are createdor modified for the other associated users.

In particular, the record 300B comprises a plurality of fields orentries, each defining a status of the user's participation in aparticular campaign. The illustrative example fields of record 300Bcomprise: (i) a user identifier field 302B, which uniquely identifiesthe user of the record (which may be a key field utilized to retrievedata defining the user from a record of the user account data records206 of FIG. 2); (ii) a campaign identifier field 304B (which may be akey field utilized to retrieve data defining the campaign from a recordof the campaign meta-data record 208 of FIG. 2); (iii) an avataridentifier field 306B (which may be a key field utilized to retrievedata defining the avatar from a record of the avatar data 212 of FIG.2); (iv) a campaign avatar data field 308B (which may comprise a pointeror identifier of a data file which defines information customizing theuser's avatar for a particular campaign, such as a uniform or otherinsignia identifying the third party organization of the campaign, whichis to be added to a default depiction of the user's avatar which is notspecific to any particular campaign); (v) a custom online portal URLfield 310B (which stores an address or other identifier of a customonline portal created for a user, an example of which is illustrated inFIG. 6); (vi) an avatar location field 312B, which stores a file oridentifier of a file defining data for a personalized virtual locationin which the user's avatar may be depicted (e.g., a personalized virtualroom or locker, an example of which is illustrated in FIGS. 8A, 8B and8C); (vii) a campaign status field 314, which indicates a status of thecampaign or user's participation in the campaign (e.g., whether thecampaign is active, will begin on a certain date or has ended); (viii) asales goal/current field 316 which stores an indication of a sales goaland the current total in sales achieve (of course, different goals maybe stored or represented and the sales goal/current data may berepresented in a different manner, such as percentage of goal achievedthus far); (ix) a group identifier field 318B, which stores anidentifier of a group affiliated with the third party organization ofthe campaign of which the user is a member (e.g., a class of a school ifthe third party organization is a school, a troop number of a scoutingorganization if the third party organization is a scouting organization,etc.); (x) a group image identifier field 320B, which may store anidentifier, link or data file of a group image of the user's avatar andthe avatar's of other users associated with the user (an example ofwhich is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively); (xi) an award Astatus field 322B, which indicates whether a user has earned a firstaward (virtual or real world) available by meeting one or more criteriaof the campaign; (xii) an award B status field 324B, which indicateswhether a user has earned a second award (virtual or real world)available by meeting one or more criteria of the campaign (although onlytwo awards are illustrated via fields 322B and 324B, any number ofawards may be available for earning by the user); (xiii) a messageidentifier field 326B, which stores an identifier, link to or data filefor a personalized message provided by the user for use in creatingcustomized marketing content (e.g., for inclusion in an e-mail torecipients and/or for output via a customized online portal); (xiv) apersonal video identifier 328B, which stores an identifier, link to ordata file for a personalized video uploaded by the user for use increating customized marketing content (e.g., for inclusion in an e-mailto recipients and/or for output via a customized online portal); (xv)recipient identifiers field 330B, which stores an identifier (e.g.,which is a key field for a record which stores additional data for eachsuch recipient, such as a nickname and e-mail address) for eachrecipient to whom the user would like to have customized marketingcontent promoting his/her participation in this particular campaign (itshould be noted that the recipients listed in field 330B may be all or asubset of the recipients listed in field 310A of record 300A); and (xvi)login credentials field 332B, which stores credentials (e.g., a usernameand password) for allowing access to the data defining a user'sparticipation in a particular campaign and allows the person (e.g. theuser, guardian of the user or leader of a group of the user) to view ormodify such data (e.g., to modify a sales goal, upload a video for usein a customized online portal, customize an avatar for use in promotingthe campaign by the user, etc.).

The example record 300B illustrated in FIG. 3B further includes anAssociated User(s) field 334B. This field stores identifiers of otherusers with which the user who is the subject of this record isassociated with. For example, these may be the uses who also belong to aparticular group which is participating in the current campaign (e.g., aparticular class, sports team or scouting group). The user identifiersstored in field 334B may be, for example, provided by the user oranother person affiliated with the user (e.g., a leader of the group ofwhich the user is a member) or may be determined automatically based onthe group identifier stored in field 318B or based on other data. In oneembodiment, if a group is participating in a campaign of a third party(e.g., a particular class is participating in a fundraising campaign ofa sports club or a particular troop is participating in a fundraisingcampaign of a scouting organization), a group leader may access thesystem of a User Fundraising Service (e.g., system 200) and provide anindication of each user who is a member of the group by associating themembers with the group identifier of the group (which, in someembodiments, may be generated by the system or provided by the leader(e.g., such as a troop number)). Thus, the members of the group may beassociated with one another via a group identifier of the group. Theidentifiers of other users associated with a particular user may be usedin some embodiments to updated data or content. For example, in oneembodiment a group image or photo may be generated the system, the groupimage or photo including an avatar (or other representation) for eachuser of the group who has created a customized avatar (and, in someembodiments, an avatar or other representation of the leader).Respective examples of such group images or photos are illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9. Thus, the user identifiers of users associated with theuser may be utilized by the system 200 to determine whether a groupimage or photo should be updated (e.g., based on a creation ormodification of another associated user's avatar). In some embodiments,such a group image or photo is updated dynamically (e.g., as newinformation relevant to the group image or photo is received by thesystem) while in other embodiments it is updated periodically or at therequest of the user or another authorized person (e.g., a leader of thegroup). The user identifiers of other users associated with the user mayalso be utilized for other purposes (e.g., to share the user's earningof awards or other accomplishments with the other users).

In accordance with some embodiments, the data stored in record 300B maybe utilized to create or update marketing content for a user infurtherance of the user's participation in a particular campaign of aparticular third party organization. For example, the data in campaignavatar data field 308B may be utilized to further personalize a user'sdefault avatar (e.g., as identified in the avatar identifier field 306B)for a particular campaign. The campaign-specific avatar (e.g., wearingthe uniform or other insignia of the third party organization associatedwith the campaign) may then be output in a customized online portalwhich also includes the personalized message and personalized videoidentified in fields 326B and 328B, respectively. An e-mail messageincluding the campaign-specific avatar may then be output to therecipients identified in field 330B. As at least some of the recipientsvisit the personalized online portal identified in the e-mail messageand make purchases, the current sales in field 316B may be updated anddata output in the customized online portal may be updated based on suchadditional sales data as well.

Referring now to FIG. 4, illustrated therein is an example userinterface 400 which may be output to a user for facilitating thegeneration of a customized avatar to represent a user. The term “avatar”as used herein unless indicated otherwise, may refer to a graphicalrepresentation, likeness or caricature of a user. An avatar may in someembodiments comprise an entire body representation of the user (e.g.,not just a representation of a head and face of a user but also the bodyof the user, including apparel), although for some applications only theneck-up portion of an avatar may be shown (e.g., in a social mediashare, such as a graphic accompanying a Tweet™). An avatar may be twodimensional or three dimensional, static or dynamic. An avatar, may, forexample, represent an alter ego or character of the user. Theembodiments described herein are not limited to representations of auser which may be considered avatars. Other representations of a usermay be utilized while remaining within the spirit and scope of theembodiments. For example, a photo or drawing of a user (or other imagerepresenting the user) may be utilized in some embodiments.

The user interface 400 may comprise, for example, a user interface of aUser Fundraising Service, for allowing a user to make selections forcreating a customized avatar to represent the user. The user interface400 comprises a menu of user selectable choices 410 for customizing anappearance of an avatar, such as the head of the avatar (e.g., skintone, hair color, hair style, etc.), the body (e.g., height, shape) andthe apparel or clothing (e.g., color or style of a jersey or other typeof uniform). The user interface 400 further comprises a depiction of anavatar 405, such as may result from making selections in the menu 410.The avatar 405 may comprise, for example, a default avatar and/or anavatar the appearance of which is modified in real time as the userselects options from the menu 410.

In some embodiments, an aspect of the appearance of an avatar createdfor a user may be based on information other than selections from a menuof options such as depicted in menu 410. For example, if the user is amember of a sports team, the color or style of jersey of the avatar maybe automatically selected or determined based on information the userprovides (e.g., based on the meta-data stored for the campaign which theuser indicates he/she is currently participating in). For example, theuser may be provided an opportunity to indicate which campaign theavatar is to be used for (or being created in support of) and themeta-data of the campaign (such as may be stored in a campaign meta-datarecord 208) may be accessed to determine the appropriate apparel of theavatar. In a more particular example, the number to be included on thejersey of the avatar may be determined based on information stored in auser account data record 206, campaign meta-data data record 208 or inanother storage location. In another more particular example, if theuser is a scout participating in a campaign for a scouting organization,the den or troop number of the user's scout group may be automaticallydetermined and included on the uniform of the avatar based oninformation the user provides. In some embodiments, the user may beprovided with an opportunity to purchase, qualify for or obtaincustomized merchandizing based on the customized avatar created for theuser (e.g., a plush doll, coffee mug, mouse pad, tote bag, etc.).

In some embodiments, as described above, the apparel of an avatar mayincorporate personalized items, such as team or school colors (e.g., ifthe avatar is being used in a campaign for the team or school). Otherexamples of how an avatar may be personalized include logos, brands,sports or band equipment (or other organization propos or equipment,such as chess pieces or awards for chess club, costumes for schoolplays, etc.). In some embodiments, the Fundraising Server 110 may needto obtain permission or a license from a third party (e.g., a brand orlogo owner) in order to offer apparel or other virtual items forpersonalizing an avatar that include the proprietary information, brandsor logos of that third party. For example, in an embodiment in which aschool or PTA/PTO of a school organize a fundraising campaign, theschool or PTA/PTO may upload images, graphics or other files (e.g.,logos) of the school for use by users who participate in the fundraisingcampaign in customizing their avatars and thus provide permission to theFundraising Server 110 to facilitate use of such images, graphics orfiles.

In some embodiments, there may be opportunities for a third partyorganization that is the beneficiary of a campaign to realize additionalfinancial support or funding by selecting a sponsor organization to beassociated with the campaign. The sponsor organization may comprise, forexample, a provider of sports or other apparel or equipment relevant tothe campaign. For example, a sponsor organization may agree to donate tothe third party organization campaign or provide another benefit to thethird party organization (e.g., provide prizes to use as rewards forusers for meeting goals of the campaign) if the users participating inthe campaign add a logo or brand name of the sponsor organization totheir avatar or avatar's virtual room. For example, a sports apparelbrand such as Under Armour™ may provide free Under Armour™ t-shirts asrewards for meeting sales goals if minimum number of users in a campaignadd a t-shirt or hat with the Under Armour™ name and/or logo to theiravatar as it is used in marketing messages during the campaign. In oneembodiment, an organizer of a campaign may be presented with one or moreoptions of available sponsors for a campaign they are organizing via theFundraising Server 110. For example, the Fundraising Server may storeand output via a user interface to the organizer a menu of availablesponsors and the attendant benefits, requirements and other terms ofeach such sponsor for being affiliated with a campaign.

In some embodiments, a data file (e.g., an image file and/or filestoring the choices made by the user in customizing the avatar) may bestored in association with the user. For example, an identifier foruniquely identifying the avatar created for the user based on thechoices made by the user may be generated and stored in association withthe file and stored in a user account data record of the user. In someembodiments, the avatar created for the user based on the choices madeby the user via menu 410 may be utilized or included in variousmarketing content for a campaign the user is participating in (e.g., ine-mail messages sent on behalf of the user, in a customized onlineportal created for the user, in a group image of the user's avatar andthe avatar's of other users associated with the user, etc.).

Referring now to FIG. 5, illustrated therein is an embodiment of anexample user interface 500, which may comprise an example marketingcontent (embodied, for illustrative purposes only, as an e-mail messageor a message which may appear on a web page associated with the user),which message may be generated by a User Fundraising Service (e.g., viasystem 100 of FIG. 1 or system 200 of FIG. 2) on behalf of a user. Inaccordance with some embodiments, the marketing content may be generatedusing information provided by the user and information provided by thethird party organization which the user is supporting. For example, themarketing content may include a customized avatar 505 the appearance ofwhich is customized based on data received from the user (e.g., based onselections of the user via an interface such as interface 400) and datareceived from the third party organization (e.g., uniform informationand logos provided by the third party organization). The marketingcontent may, in accordance with some embodiments, further include apersonalized message 510, which may include a respective personalizedsalutation each recipient to whom the marketing content is transmittedor output. For example, in one embodiment a user may provide to theservice names and contact information (e.g., e-mail addresses) for eachof a plurality of friends or family members to whom the user desires tosend an e-mail or other personalized marketing content (a plurality ofrecipients).

The marketing content may further be personalized with (i) the name ofthe third party organization on behalf of which the user is trying toraise funds and/or awareness; (ii) an indication of the product(s) theuser is trying to sell in order to raise funds for the named third partyorganization (e.g., all or a portion of the proceeds from the sales ofthe specified products may be provided to the named third partyorganization); and (iii) links to one or more personalized “storefronts”or web pages (illustrated via links 515 and 520 in user interface 500)via which the recipient of the marketing message may purchase thespecified products in order to help the user raise funds for the thirdparty organization. For example, in one embodiment a link to apersonalized storefront such as the link 515 may cause a personalizedweb page to be opened in the recipient's browser, which web page allowsthe recipient to purchase one or more products in support of thecampaign being promoted by the user in the personalized message 510.

As can be appreciated from the embodiment of user interface 500 andother embodiments described herein, a User Fundraising Service asdescribed herein may function to facilitate sales of products on behalfof the user (e.g., provide an interface on the user's online portal viawhich individuals may place products into a shopping cart, providepayment, specify shipping instructions, etc.). In some embodiments, theUser Fundraising Service may facilitate the collection of payments anddisbursement of payments to one or more third party organizations forany given sale (e.g., in some embodiments a portion of each sale may beprovided to the third party organization for which the user is raisingfunds, another portion may be provided to the user or a local office orsub-group of the third party organization (e.g., a troop or den of ascouting organization, etc.).

In one embodiment, the marketing content illustrated in FIG. 5 maycomprise an e-mail message which is output to a plurality of recipientsspecified by the user (e.g., friends and family members comprising theuser's personal network). The e-mail message may be, for example, outputby the User Fundraising Service (e.g., via the services of anotherentity specializing in mass e-mail messaging) on behalf of the user.Alternatively, the e-mail message may be transmitted to the user oranother person associated with the user (e.g., a coach of the user'ssports team or a leader of the user's scouting group) for forwarding bythe user to desired recipients.

Turning now to FIG. 6, illustrated therein is an example user interface600 which comprises a web page of a customized online portal generatedby a User Fundraising Service on behalf of a user, via which web pageviewers are enabled to purchase products in order to help raise fundsfor a specified third party organization. In accordance with someembodiments, the user (or a group with which the user is associated,such as a troop or den of a scouting organization, which may be asubsidiary of or group within the third party organization) may benefitfrom such purchases by receiving a portion of proceeds from suchpurchases, in addition to the third party organization receiving aportion of such proceeds. In accordance with some embodiments, the UserFundraising Service may receive payment from the third partyorganization from aiding such purchases via the creation of customizedonline portals for users affiliated with the third party organization.Such payment may be in the form of a portion of the proceeds from thesales, a flat fee payment for the services provided or another form ofpayment.

It should be noted that an online portal (or customized online portal),as the term is used herein unless indicated otherwise, may refer to awebsite or set of web pages, associated with a user and designed topromote the user's efforts to promote a campaign of a third partyorganization, by soliciting sales, donations or pledges via the one ormore web pages comprising the customized online portal. In accordancewith various embodiments described herein, an online portal is designedby a User Fundraising Service (e.g., via system 200 of FIG. 2) usingcontent received from a user (e.g., text, images, graphics, information,videos, etc. provided by the user as it relates to the user and/or theuser's interest in, or reasons for, promoting the third partyorganization) and content received from or related to the third partyorganization (e.g., the name of the organization, a trademark or logo ofthe organization, products available for sale from or on behalf of theorganization, links to information or products, etc.). In accordancewith some embodiments, the online portal may be a mechanism for anindividual (e.g., an individual invited to do so by the user for whomthe online portal was created or customized) to support a third partyorganization at the request of the user by making purchases, donationsor pledges for the benefit of the third party organization, the userand/or a group with which the user is affiliated (e.g., an affiliate,subsidiary or group within the third party organization, such as a classin a school, a team of a sports club or a troop of a scoutingorganization).

In accordance with some embodiments, the user interface 600 may comprisea web page of a customized online portal which comprises a personalized“online store” web page to which a recipient is directed when clickingon a link in a personalized message from the user (e.g., a link includedin user interface 500 of FIG. 5). In accordance with some embodiments,the user interface 600 is customized with (i) a personalized video whichmay be initiated via area 605 (this may be a default video if the userchooses not to upload a personal video); (ii) a photo or image of theuser in area 610 (this may be an image of the user's avatar in someembodiments); (iii) a personal message from the user in area 615; (iv)choices of products in areas 620 and 625, which may comprise links orfunctionality via which the recipient or viewer may request moredetailed information on particular products being sold and/or purchasesuch products (e.g., selecting a representation of a product may causeone or more additional web pages or dialogue box to be output, via whichthe user may place selected product(s) in a virtual shopping cart andprovide credit card or other payment for the selected product(s)). Inother words, the user interface 600 may include or support a shoppingcart function which allows an individual to purchase the one or moreavailable products (e.g., provide payment, provide shipping information,etc.).

In accordance with some embodiments, the user interface 600 may depictone or more products selected by the user as ones to be highlighted,emphasized or promoted via the user interface. For example, assumingthere is a set of products available for sale by the user on behalf ofthe third party organization, the user may in some embodiments beallowed to select a subset of such products to be promoted or placed ina designated area of the user interface 600 (e.g., such as illustratedin area 625), to bring attention to such products. In some embodiments,such a subset may be selected for the recipient or viewer of the userinterface 600 (e.g., assuming the products being sold are magazines,based on the viewer's location a magazine specific to a particulargeographical area may be selected, or based on the viewer's interests amagazine specific to a hobby or activity may be selected). In oneembodiment, the user for whom the customized online portal embodied ininterface 600 may be provided an opportunity to indicate a product theuser particularly likes (e.g., for him/herself) so that visitors to theonline portal may recognize that the user particularly likes the product(and, for example, purchase the product for the user or themselves). Itshould be noted that although the products illustrated as being sold aremagazines, the embodiments described herein are not limited to anyparticular products or types of products (and, as described herein, thatpledges or donations may be requested in lieu of or in addition topurchase of products).

Referring now to FIGS. 7, illustrated therein is an example userinterface 700 which depicts a web page via which a user may view hiscustomized avatar and the virtual awards the user has earned or mayearn. In accordance with some embodiments, a user may earn awards whichmay be represented via medals or other insignia which may be depicted onthe user's customized avatar (e.g., on a uniform of the avatar orotherwise as worn by the avatar) and/or trophies or otherrepresentations of awards which may be depicted in a virtual location inwhich the avatar is depicted (e.g., in a virtual room, locker, sportsvenue or other location). In accordance with some embodiments, a usermay earn a virtual award (e.g., an award depicted as an insignia on theuser's avatar or in the virtual room of the avatar but which has notmonetary or tangible value) based on actions of the user in providingcontent for the user's online portal or otherwise facilitating theuser's marketing efforts to contribute to the campaign of a third partyorganization. For example, a user may earn a video camera badge ortrophy for his avatar by uploading a video for use in the user's onlineportal. Providing such virtual awards may, at little or no cost to thethird party organization or other entity, incentivize the user tofurther customize his/her marketing efforts. This may increase thesuccess of the user's contribution to the campaign of the third partyorganization. In some embodiments, an embodiment of an award or insigniaprovided to the avatar (or in the avatar's virtual location, such as ifthe award comprises a trophy, medal or other award which may bedisplayed in the virtual location) may be customized or based on aninterest or preference of the user (e.g., pets or animals, sports, artsand crafts, medieval times, etc.).

In some embodiments, a user may earn virtual awards by meeting one ormore goals of the campaign (e.g., as set out in the meta-data recorddefining the campaign). For example, in one embodiment a user or otherentity (e.g., the third party organization or a leader or coach of thegroup with which the user is affiliated) may specify a goal. Forexample, the goal may comprise a monetary value in sales to be achievedor a number of products to be sold. The user may earn awards based onprogress towards the goal (e.g., the user may earn a bronze medal forhis/her avatar once 25% of the goal is satisfied, a silver medal once50% of the goal is satisfied and a gold medal once 100% of the goal issatisfied). In some embodiments, a user may also earn monetary ortangible awards (e.g., prizes such as products, discounts, tickets toevents, etc.) based on progress towards satisfying the goal. In someembodiments, an indication of such awards and/or progress towards suchawards may be represented and/or updated in user interface 500 (e.g.,marketing content output to recipients in the form of an e-mail messageencouraging purchases), user interface 600 (e.g., a web page comprisinga customized online portal), user interface 800 (depicting the user'savatar in personalized virtual location) or elsewhere (e.g., in ane-mail message transmitted to the user and/or a leader or coach of agroup with which the user is affiliated).

User interface 700 illustrates one example interface via which a usermay view his avatar, the awards earned for wearing by the avatar andadditional awards which may be won for wearing by the avatar or forrepresentation in a virtual representation of the avatar. For example,the avatar 705 is depicted as having earned a virtual medal 710 and area715 illustrates a plurality of additional virtual awards which may beearned for the avatar (or the avatar's virtual location) by the user. Insome embodiments, each of the awards depicted in area 715 may beaccompanied by an explanation of the one or more criteria for earningthe associated award.

Referring now to FIG. 8A, illustrated therein is an example userinterface 800 comprising a customized avatar represented in a virtuallocation comprising a virtual room, which virtual room is personalizedwith content relevant to the user and/or the avatar. Illustrated in thevirtual room is the user's avatar 805.

Also illustrated in the virtual room is a group image 815 (which in someembodiments may be embodies as a photo, caricature or otherrepresentation) of the user's avatar with the avatar's of other avatarscreated by other users. For example, as described with respect to FIG.3B and consistent with some embodiments, a group image or photo may beupdated based on data associated with other users associated with theuser who is the subject of the user interface 600 and user interface800. In one embodiment, a group of users may cooperate to earn a groupaward (e.g., by achieving a total in sales goal for the group) and anearning of such a group award may be depicted in a group image or photo.

In one embodiment, when a user logs in to a web page such as depicted inthe user interface 800, the system may check to determine whether newavatar data is available for the group image 815 (e.g., whetheradditional associated users have created customized avatars, modifiedthe appearance of their avatars or earned awards which should bedepicted in the appearance of their avatars or whether a group award hasbeen earned). If new data is available, the system may updated the groupimage 815 based on such data. In other embodiments, the group image isupdated dynamically or periodically and not in response to a userlogging in to a user interface which outputs such group image. Forexample, the group image may be stored in a file (e.g., as identified infield 320B of FIG. 3B) and a process of the system 200 may periodicallyor dynamically (e.g., as new relevant data becomes available) update thefile, which is then accessed and utilized in the interface 800 when theuser logs in to the relevant web page. In accordance with oneembodiment, the representation of group image 815 may comprise a link toanother (e.g., larger or more detailed) version of the group image,which the user may view by actuating or selecting the link comprisinggroup image 815.

In accordance with some embodiments, the virtual location of userinterface 800 further comprises an area 820 for depicting awards earned(or earnable) by the user, awards which are not worn by the avatar ofthe user. In the non-limiting example of FIG. 8, such an area 820 isdepicted as a trophy shelf or cabinet depicting trophies, awards orother representations of achievement earned (or earnable) by the user.As described herein, such awards may be virtual (and, in someembodiments, have a real-world counterpart, such as a prize which ismailed or otherwise provided to the user) and may be earned bysatisfying goals of the fundraising campaign and/or performingqualifying activities of customizing the online portal of the user. Thearea 820 illustrates several award earned by the user of avatar 805. Theawards illustrated with a “question mark” over them are awards which theuser may earn but has not yet earned (of course other embodiments ofillustrating available but not yet earned awards may be utilized).

In accordance with some embodiments, a virtual location such as thatillustrated in user interface 800 may be further customized by or for auser. For example, the virtual location may be illustrated based oncontent (e.g., decorations) and in colors or themes preferred by theuser. In accordance with one embodiment, the user's name is prominentlydisplayed in area 810 of the virtual location. In some embodiments, anindication of a group the user is a member of may also be displayed(e.g., the user's team name or troop number). The user interface 800 maybe updated, for example, responsive to various achievements of the user,modifications made by the user or another authorized person and/oradditional content provided by the user.

In accordance with some embodiments, a user interface such as userinterface 800 may be a web page of a user's customized online portal towhich access is restricted (e.g., some of the web pages comprising auser's online portal may be for the user's private use and not part ofthe user's marketing efforts towards his/her personal network). Forexample, in some embodiments only the user or another authorized person(e.g., the user's guardian or a leader of a group to which the userbelongs) may be granted access (e.g., via verified login credentials) tosuch a web page of the user's customized online portal. In accordancewith some embodiments, at least some other types of web pages of auser's customized online portal may be accessible to individuals invitedby the user (e.g., friend or family members in the personal network ofthe user, such as the recipients to which an e-mail or other messagesoliciting support of the campaign). For example, the user may transmit(or authorize the transmission of) an e-mail or other marketing messageto such individuals, inviting them to visit the one or more pages of theonline portal (e.g., in order to purchase products to raise funds forthe third party organization). An example of such an e-mail message isillustrated herein in FIG. 5. In accordance with some embodiments, webpages to which such individuals are invited (e.g., such as the exampleweb page illustrated in FIG. 6) may be accessible only via apre-authorized URL link (e.g., a link in an e-mail generated forpurposes of inviting such individuals, such as link 515 or 520 of FIG.5) and/or via a password or other login credential. Such limited accessmay be desirable to provide privacy to the user.

Referring now to FIG. 8B, illustrated therein is the user interface 800similar to that illustrated in FIG. 8A, but with the group image 815being different in that there is an additional avatar 815 a added to thegroup image 815. It should be noted that the avatar 815 a is depicted ina faded fashion relative to the other avatars in the group image 815, inaccordance with embodiments described below. In accordance with someembodiments, another user's avatar (i.e., an avatar of a user that isnot the user who is the subject of the user interface 800, such as anavatar of a team member or troop member with the subject user) may beadded to the group image upon a predetermined condition being satisfied.The predetermined condition may be set, for example, by a grouporganizer (e.g., troop leader, team manager, etc.) that organizes afundraising campaign. Examples of predetermined conditions include,without limitation: (i) a minimum sales value; (ii) a minimum number ofitems sold; (iii) a minimum number of e-mails sent by the user tosolicit sales towards a fundraising goal; (iv) a minimum number ofresponses to a user's sales efforts (e.g., a minimum number of“click-throughs” from recipients who received an e-mail from the userthat includes a link to the user's customized online portal); and (iv) aminimum activity level by a user with respect to setting up apersonalized online portal and/or a personalized avatar (e.g., the userhas to select the characteristics of his/her avatar, such as describedwith respect to FIG. 4). In accordance with some embodiments, once auser has satisfied the one or more predetermined conditions for havinghis/her avatar added to a group image associated with the user (orassociated with a team or group that the user is a part of), that user'savatar may be added to the group image as it may be output in a userinterface 800 of each user associated with that group or team. Thus, forexample, assuming that the user who is the subject of the user interface800A of FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B is a member of the same group as the userwhose avatar is represented as avatar 815 a (referred to as user 815 aherein) in group image 815, it may be assumed that in the circumstancesbeing depicted in FIG. 8A the user 815 a has not yet satisfied the oneor more predetermined criteria for having his/her avatar added to thegroup image and thus group image 815 of FIG. 8A does not include avatar815 a.

In some embodiments, rather than it being a binary yes/no determinationof whether a user's avatar should be added to (or remain included in) agroup image, a user's avatar may be progressively faded in/out orprogressively made more/less intense, bright, clear, revealed,transparent or otherwise discernable in a group image over time or overa series of events based on the user's activities (or activitiesattributable to the user, such as purchases made by persons associatedwith the user). For example, a group image may initially not include aparticular avatar of a user who has not satisfied at least onepredetermined criteria for having the user's avatar included in a groupimage (or the group image may initially include a relatively faded,transparent, low intensity or obscured version of the user's avatar).Then, as the user's activities bring the user closer to a goal or closerto satisfying at least one predetermined criteria, the avatar of theuser may be made darker, more intense, brighter, clearer or sharper inthe group image.

In another embodiment, a user's avatar may initially be shown in a groupimage as not faded or in a relatively sharp, intense or bright mannerbut may then be rendered more faded, transparent, less intense, lesssharp or less bright over time if the user does not satisfy at least onerelevant predetermined criteria. For example, if a user does not achieveat least X in sales within a predetermined period of time or does notsend an e-mail with a link to the user's customized online portal to atleast X persons within a predetermined period of time, the image of theuser's avatar may be rendered more faded, more transparent, less brightor less intense within a group image. In some embodiments, a user may begiven a grace period within which to satisfy the at least one relevantpredetermined criteria and thus result in the user's avatar becomingless faded, less transparent, more bright or more intense.

Referring again to FIG. 8B, illustrated therein is the user interface800 of FIG. 8A but with the avatar 815 a illustrated in group image 815in a relatively faded format. The faded format of the avatar 815 mayindicate, for example, that the user 815 a has not yet satisfied therelevant predetermined criteria for having her avatar included in thegroup image 815 but has begun to do so (or, alternatively, that theuser's avatar is in danger of being faded out from the group imagebecause the user 815 a has not yet satisfied at least one predeterminedcondition within a predetermined period of time).

Referring now to FIG. 8C, illustrated therein is the user interface 800of FIGS. 8A and 8B, but with the group image 815 including the avatar815 a being depicted in the same brightness or line color as the otheravatars in the image. This may indicate, in one embodiment, that theuser 815 a has fully satisfied the at least one predetermined criterionfor having her avatar included in the group image 815. In anotherembodiment, this may indicate that the user 815 a is not yet in dangerof having her avatar faded out or removed from the group image 815 a.

Thus, in some embodiments users may be rewarded with achieving one ormore predetermined criteria by having the user's avatar added to a groupimage. In an alternate embodiment, a user's avatar may initially beshown as part of a group image representing a group participating in afundraising campaign but if the user fails to satisfy one or morepredetermined criteria (e.g., within a predetermined period of time),the user may be penalized for this by having his/her avatar removed fromthe group image. In some embodiments, a user who has been penalized byhaving his/her avatar removed from a group image may be afforded anopportunity to have the avatar returned to the group image by beinggiven a grace period within which to satisfy the at least onepredetermined criteria and/or being given an alternate at least onepredetermined criteria to satisfy (e.g., you did not achieve at least $Xin sales within the last week so your avatar has been removed from thegroup photo but if you send 10 more e-mails promoting this fundraiserthen your avatar will be returned to the group image).

In some embodiments, it may be certain parts or portions (e.g. bodyparts or uniform parts) of a user's avatar that are rendered asless/more faded or even removed from the group image (as opposed tofading the entire avatar). For example, if a user fails to satisfy atleast one predetermine criteria, an arm of the avatar may be removed ora patch on the avatar's uniform or other clothing may be removed.Similarly, in embodiments in which users are rewarded with a moreintense or complete avatar for satisfying one or more predeterminedcriteria, an arm or other body part may be added to a user's avatar asthe user gets closer to satisfying the one or more predeterminedcriteria (such that the whole avatar is represented only once the userfully satisfies the one or more predetermined criteria).

It should be appreciated that embodiments in which a user's avatar maybe faded in or out of a group image (or to have his/her avatar otherwiseremoved, added to, obscured or unobscured from a group image), based ona satisfaction of at least one or more predetermined criteria, may exerta certain pressure or incentive on the user to satisfy the one or morepredetermined criteria in order to have his/her avatar preserved in oradded to the group image. Even if the user does not realize that his/heravatar is in danger of being faded out of a group image (or has not yetbeen added or fully added to a group image), the other users in whosevirtual rooms the group image appears may communicate with the user tolet him/her know this and encourage him/her to perform activities to addor preserve the avatar in the group image. In some embodiments, theFundraising Server 110 may provide a mechanism via which group membersor participants in a particular campaign may contact a particular userto warn him/her about the status of his/her avatar vis-à-vis a groupimage. For example, the Fundraising Server may allow a first user tosend an e-mail, instant message or text message to a second user whoseavatar is faded or not present in a group image (or post a message onthe second user's customized online portal), alerting the second user asto the status of his/her avatar vis-à-vis the group image (and, in someembodiments, include a copy of the group image showing the status of thesecond user's avatar).

Referring now to FIG. 9, illustrated therein is a user interface 900which depicts a group image comprising a representation of the user'savatar along with the avatar's of other users with whom the user isassociated. For example, the group image of FIG. 9 may comprise an imageof the user's avatar along with the avatars of other members of theuser's sports team, class, scouting group or other community or workgroup who have also customized an avatar. In the example of FIG. 900 thegroup image depicts just the “head shots” of each avatar but in otherembodiments a partial or full body view of each avatar may berepresented. In some embodiments, a group image of a representation ofthe user and representations of other users associated with the user maycomprise photo images, caricatures, silhouettes or other representationsrather than avatars. As described herein, a group image of arepresentation of the user along with representations of other usersassociated with the user may be output in a web page (e.g., a restrictedaccess web page) of the user's customized online portal. Similarly, aweb page of a customized online portal of one of the other associatedusers may include a group image which includes a representation of theuser. In some embodiments, any user a representation of whom is to beincluded in a group image may need to provide permission before therepresentation is included in the group image. In some embodiments, agroup image such as that illustrated in FIG. 9 may comprise additionalfunctionality allowing the user to communicate with the other users byuse of the group image. For example, the group image may includefunctionality such that clicking on a representation of one of the otherusers would allow the user to send a communication (e.g., an e-mail, atext message, a posting to a social media site or an instant message) tothe other user depicted in the representation. In some embodiments, auser may be allowed to modify the group image (e.g., the user may beallowed to highlight or add labels to representations of individualusers in the group image).

In accordance with some embodiments, a processor or system (e.g., system200 of FIG. 2) may be operable to facilitate a first user's efforts tosupport a third party organization by (i) determining a first userassociated with a group of users which is participating in a fundraisingcampaign for a third party organization; (ii) creating a firstpersonalized graphical representation of the first user based oninformation received from the first user, thereby creating a first usergraphical representation; (iii) determining a second user who is alsoassociated with the group; (iv) determining that a personalizedgraphical representation of the second user has been created for thesecond user based on information received from the second user, therebydetermining a second user graphical representation; (v) generating agroup image which includes the first user graphical representation and asecond user graphical representation; and (vi) outputting to the firstuser, via a web page, the group image. In some embodiments, theprocessor or system may be further operable to (i) determine a thirduser who is also associated with the group; (ii) determine that apersonalized graphical representation of the third user has been createdfor the third user based on information received from the third user,thereby determining a third user graphical representation; and (iii)modify the group image to further include the third user graphicalrepresentation. In some embodiments, the processor or system maybefurther operable to (i) determine a change in data associated with thefirst graphical representation; and (ii) modify the group image torepresent the change in data associated with the first graphicalrepresentation. The change in data may comprise, for example, anindication that the first user has earned a virtual award for inclusionon apparel included in the first graphical representation. In accordancewith some embodiments, the processor or system may be further operableto (i) identify at least one of logo and uniform information associatedwith the third party organization; and (ii) include the at least one oflogo and uniform information in the group image.

Referring now to FIG. 10, illustrated therein is a user interface 1000,which is an example of an interface which may be output to a user whohas earned a virtual award (e.g., in an e-mail message or window whichis displayed to the user once the user completes a task qualifying theuser for the virtual award or the next time the user logs into hiscustomized online portal). In the particular embodiment of FIG. 10, amessage informs a user that the user has earned an “Avatar Trophy” forsuccessfully completing the customization or creation of his own avatar.In some embodiments, the trophy or other virtual award may also bedisplayed in a virtual location associated with the user (e.g., avirtual locker or virtual room, such as that illustrated in FIG. 8.

Referring now to FIG. 11, illustrated therein is a user interface 1100,which depicts real world merchandize which a user or other authorizedperson may order, the real world merchandise being customized with animage of the user's avatar and/or a representation of a group image. Inthe particular embodiment of FIG. 11, the real world merchandisecomprises patches the user may order. But other types of merchandise arecontemplated. For example, plush dolls, notebooks, wall posters, mugs,mouse pads, t-shirts and other apparel may be available.

Referring now to FIG. 12, illustrated therein is an example process 1200which is consistent with one or more embodiments described herein. Itshould be noted that the process 1200 (and all processes describedherein) are exemplary only and should not be construed in a limitingfashion. For example, additional and/or substitute steps to thoseillustrated may be practiced within the scope of the presentinvention(s) and in one or more embodiments one or more steps may beomitted or modified. In one embodiment, the process 1200 (or portionsthereof) may be performed, for example, by a Fundraising Server 110(FIG. 1) and/or system 200 (FIG. 2). The process 1200 comprises anexample method for facilitating a user's marketing efforts on behalf ofa third party organization by performing at least one of the followingfunctions: (i) generating a customized online portal for the user, basedon content received from the user and the third party organization, (ii)generating a customized avatar for the user based on informationreceived from the user and, in some embodiments, uniform or insigniainformation received from the third party organization, (iii)facilitating transactions (e.g., purchases of products or donations)made by individuals in a given user's personal network which benefit thethird party organization; (iv) tracking a user's progress in his/herefforts towards contributing to a campaign; (v) tracking, managingand/or transmitting funds collected by each user (or as a result of aparticular user's marketing efforts) on behalf of the third partyorganization; and (vi) generating, transmitting and/or tracking one ormore marketing messages on behalf of a given user, distributed (by or onbehalf of the user) to specified individuals in the user's personalnetwork to promote a campaign for the third party organization.

Referring now to FIG. 12 in particular, illustrated therein is a process1200. It should be noted that process 1200 may be preceded by aregistration process (not shown) in which a user registers (or isregistered) with User Fundraising Service. During such a registrationprocess, a user or another authorized person (e.g., a user's guardian ora leader of a group in which the user is a member) may input someinformation about the user (e.g., name, group(s) of which the user is amember, contact information for the user etc.). During the registrationprocess the user or other authorized person may provide one or morecredentials to, for example, demonstrate that the user is an authorizedvolunteer or member of the third party organization (or particular groupwithin or affiliated with the third party organization) on behalf ofwhich the user desires to participate in a campaign. For example, in oneembodiment an organization which sanctions, authorizes or permits theUser Fundraising Service to facilitate marketing efforts by members,volunteers or individuals associated with the organization towards afundraising or awareness campaign, the organization (or a sub-group,such as a local chapter of the organization, or an affiliate orsubsidiary of the organization) may provide certain information whichallows the User Fundraising Service to verify that a given user is alegitimate member or volunteer of the organization or otherwise haspermission from the third party organization to help in the campaign forthe third party organization. For example, in some embodiments a usermay be required to provide a predetermined password, code or otheridentifier prior to being able to partake of the services offered byUser Fundraising Service. In another embodiment, the third partyorganization (or a sub-group, such as a local chapter of theorganization, or an affiliate or subsidiary of the organization) mayprovide to the User Fundraising Service a list of authorized members orvolunteers and a user may be required to provide proof of identity toverify that he/she is one of the authorized members or volunteers. Insome embodiments, the User Fundraising Service may pass along a requestfrom a user to participate in an ongoing fundraising or awarenesscampaign of an organization to the organization and only allow the userto proceed if the organization authorizes or verifies the user'srequest.

It should be noted that a reference to User Fundraising Service hereinmay, unless indicated otherwise, be applicable or interchangeable with areference to a fundraising server 110 (FIG. 1) and/or system 200 (FIG.2) as described herein. For example, when it is described that data orinformation is provided to User Fundraising Service, it may beinterpreted that the data or information is provided to the system 200(e.g., directly via an input device of the system 200, over a networkfrom a remote device of a user or third party organization or topersonnel or an agent of the User Fundraising Service, who may proceedto enter the data or information to the system 200).

Turning now to step 1202 of process 1200, avatar customization data isreceived from the user. For example, a user may select various optionsfrom a menu of different characteristics of an avatar (e.g., such asillustrated in area 410 of FIG. 4). In some embodiments, a user may beprovided with software tools for modifying a default avatar's appearanceby selecting options or values from a menu. In other embodiments, a usermay be provided with software tools for uploading one or more images orgraphics for use in customizing an avatar (e.g., an image of the user'sface, which may be rendered into a caricature or other derivativerepresentation).

In 1204, online portal customization data is received from a user. Forexample, a user may provide (i) a textual description, photo or video orother content to be included in the online portal; (ii) one or moregoals the user desires to satisfy in participating in the fundraising orawareness campaign (e.g., a financial goal, such as a sales goal); (iii)answers to one or more questions output to the user, to be used incustomizing an online portal for the user; (iv) contact information forthe user; and (v) contact information for one or more recipients to whommarketing content for the campaign is to be output (in some embodimentsa user may have previously input information regarding recipients andmay simply select the recipients from a list based on such previousinput).

In 1206, a customized online portal, customized avatar and (in someembodiments) a customized virtual location (such as a virtual locker orvirtual room) for the avatar is generated by the system. Any and all ofthe customized avatar, online portal and virtual location may begenerated using, for example, the content received in 1204 and contentreceived from or related to the third party organization the user ispromoting (e.g., as received and stored in a record of the organizationaccount data records 204, a record of the campaign meta-data records 208and/or a record of the avatar data records 212, all illustrated in anddescribed with respect to FIG. 2). The virtual location may be generatedusing the customized avatar and any awards or achievements the user hasearned (e.g., in some embodiments the user may earn awards by providingcertain content in 1204, such as a personal video to be included in theonline portal). In some embodiments, the user may be a member of a localchapter, affiliate or sub-group of the third party organization. In suchembodiments, generating the customized online portal and/or thecustomized virtual room may comprise including data or informationrelated to one or more other members of the same local chapter orsub-group. For example, in one embodiments a group photo of the user'savatar with avatars of other members of the group who have also provideddata to the User Fundraising Service and had a customized avatargenerated for them may be generated and included in the virtual locationor other content created for the user.

In accordance with some embodiments, generating a customized onlineportal may comprise including shopping functionality specific to thecampaign the user is supporting into at least one page of the onlineportal. For example, generating the online portal may comprisedetermining the one or more products being sold during the campaign,including a information about the one or more products in the onlineportal (e.g., pricing information, payment functionality, a linkenabling the viewer to select the product(s) and place them in a virtualshopping cart, etc.). Such product purchase information may bedetermined, for example, based on information received from the thirdparty organization and/or the user (e.g., in some embodiments the usermay recommend or promote certain available products over others).

It should be noted that the information from and/or about a userreceived in step 1202 and/or 1204 may be received at a different(previous) point in time and later used in step 1206. In someembodiments, at least some of the information received in step 1202 isstored by the User Fundraising Service for subsequent use (e.g., in arecord for the user of the user accounts data records 206), in additionto being used to generate the customized avatar, online portal andvirtual location.

In accordance with some embodiments, at least one of a customizedavatar, a customized virtual location for the avatar and a customizedonline portal may be persistent or usable by a user for more than onecampaign (e.g., for the same organization or for differentorganizations). For example, in one embodiment the customized avatarand/or the customized virtual location for the avatar may be saved inassociation with the user or a user account (or at least data used increating the customized avatar and/or the customized virtual room, suchthat it may be re-created for the user in a subsequent campaign the userparticipates in). In one embodiment, an indication of any awards (e.g.,virtual trophies, medals and/or insignia worn by the avatar) may besaved and utilized for the user across more than one campaign the userparticipates in. In one embodiment, the customized avatar, customizedvirtual location (e.g., including any awards, trophies, medals orinsignia earned by the user and represented on the avatar and/or in thevirtual location) and/or the customized portal (or any data useful inre-creating any of the foregoing) may be stored by the User FundraisingService and provided or accessible to the user once a particularcampaign has ended. In other embodiments, any of the foregoing data maybe stored by a server of another entity on behalf of the user and/or theUser Fundraising Service. Similarly, any other data provided by a userin association with a particular campaign (e.g., login credentials,e-mail addresses, preferences) may be saved by the User FundraisingService and made available for the user to re-use in a subsequentcampaign.

In 1208, one or more specified goals of the user for solicitingcontributions (e.g., donations, pledges or purchases) to the fundraisingor awareness campaign of the third party organization are determined. Insome embodiments, such one or more goals may have been received from theuser (e.g., in 1204) or another authorized person associated with theuser (e.g., a leader of a group with which the user is associated, suchas a coach of the user's sports team). In other embodiments, such one ormore specified goals may be defined by the third party organization(e.g., an organization may specify one or more goals and correspondingawards for meeting such goal(s), to be applied to all users who helpsolicit contributions for the organization's campaign).

In 1210, customized marketing content for output to one or morerecipients is generated, created or determined using the user'scustomized avatar, customized online portal and specified one or moregoals. Such marketing content may comprise, for example, an e-mailmessage, a text message and/or a message to be posted on the user'scustomized online portal or a share to a social media site. In oneembodiment, process 1200 may include receiving, from the user, aselection of a marketing channel for the marketing content (e.g.,e-mail, posting on social media site, tweet™ etc.) and appropriatecredentials for accessing site or posting content to the site on behalfof the user. The marketing content may include, for example, an image ofthe customized avatar generated for the user, a link to one or morepages of the customized online portal created for the user, and anindication of the one or more goals of the user (and, in someembodiments, the user's progress towards meeting such goal(s)). In someembodiments, such a marketing content may further include a personalmessage or appeal from the user (which personal message or appeal may,in some embodiments, also be posted on the online portal of the user).

In some embodiments, process 1200 may include creating personalizedmarketing content for each recipient to whom the user has requested suchmarketing content be output (e.g., the user may include contact,salutation, demographic or other information about the recipients). Forexample, if the user would like to have an e-mail message sent to eachof (i) his grandmother “Nanny”; (ii) his “Uncle Fred”; (iii) hisneighbor “Mr. Smith”; and (iv) his mom's boss “Mr. Brown”, a customizedmarketing treatment may be created for each such individual (e.g., onee-mail may begin “Hi Nanny . . . ” while another may begin “Hi UncleFred . . . ”. In some embodiments, step 1210 may further compriseproviding a copy, URL link or rendition of the marketing content to theuser, such that the user may personally forward or transmit themarketing content to anyone he/she desires to invite to his customizedonline portal. In another embodiment, the User Fundraising Service maybe operable to transmit the marketing content directly to theindividuals specified by the user.

In some embodiments, a recipient of marketing content (e.g., anindividual in the user's personal network who receives an e-mail messageor other marketing content inviting the individual to visit the user'scustomized online portal) may be provided with a mechanism or interfacefor referring others to the user's customized online portal. Forexample, in some embodiments the recipient may simply be allowed toforward the e-mail to friends, and a link to the user's customizedonline portal (and, for example, an accompanying password or other logincredentials) may remain active upon the forwarding, such that the link(and any accompanying password or other login credentials) are notlimited to use by the particular recipient(s) to whom they were sent. Inother embodiments, however, a recipient may be provided with a mechanismor interface via which to refer additional individuals to the user butmay not directly forward additional individuals to the user's customizedonline portal. For example, in the case of users who are minors and/orin circumstances in which privacy of the user is a concern, the UserFundraising Service may require that any referrals of additionalindividuals who may be interested in receiving an invitation to theuser's customized online portal must be forwarded to the user forapproval before being acted upon (e.g., before such invitations areforwarded to any of the additional individuals who were not directlyidentified by the user to receive such invitations). For example, assumea user transmits (or directs User Fundraising Service to transmit) ane-mail message (or a marketing content in another format, such as atweet™) to individuals in his/her personal network, inviting them tovisit the user's personalized online portal and make purchases ordonations in support of the fundraising campaign the user isparticipating in. It may be assumed that some of the individuals whoreceive such an invitation may want to help the user by forwarding theinvitation to their own friends or family. However, the user (ororganization associated with the fundraising campaign) may have privacyconcerns with such forwarding of individuals. The User FundraisingService may, in some embodiments, allow the original recipients of suchinvitations to refer others back to the user, so that the user maydecide whether to transmit invitations to any of the additionalindividuals so referred by the original recipient(s). In someembodiments, any invitations the user authorizes to be sent to suchadditional recipients referred by a particular original recipient may beautomatically customized to indicate the original recipient who providedthe referral (e.g., if the original recipient who referred an additionalrecipient is the user's uncle, named John Smith, the individualinvitation may state: “My uncle, John Smith, suggested I let you knowabout our fundraising campaign. Would you like to buy?”). In oneembodiment, an original recipient of an invitation or marketingtreatment may provide one or more referrals to the user (i.e.,additional individuals to whom the original recipient suggests theinvitation should be sent) along with a respective at least one e-mailaddress or other contact data for each of the one or more referrals.

In 1212, the user's progress towards meeting the one or more specifiedgoals determined in 1208 are tracked. It should be noted that thistracking may be done over an extended period of time (e.g., over days orweeks during a duration of the corresponding campaign). For example, asindividuals invited by the user (e.g., via an e-mail or other marketingtreatment) respond by clicking on a link in the marketing treatmentwhich leads them to the user's online portal and make a contribution tothe organization's campaign (e.g. by making a donation or purchasing aproduct via the online portal), an indication of each such contributionmay be stored in association with the user and/or a record of the user'sprogress towards the goal(s) may be updated to reflect the progressresponsive to such contribution. If the user is part of a groupaffiliated with the third party organization of the campaign, anycontributions to the user's support of the campaign (e.g., any purchasesmade using the user's customized online portal) may also be attributedto, and stored in association with, the group. In some embodiments, aleader of the group may be informed of progress or contributionsattributable to any member of the group (e.g., the leader may beprovided by the User Fundraising Service with a group web page orreporting tool via which the leader may view the purchases or othercontributions attributable to members of the group).

In accordance with some embodiments, a user may be rewarded (e.g., viavirtual awards provided to the user's avatar or virtual location of theuser's avatar) by satisfying certain benchmarks or performing certainactivities aimed at improving the effectiveness (in terms of solicitingcontributions from individuals via the user's online portal to benefitthe campaign of the organization). For example, as described at leastwith respect to FIG. 7 and FIGS. 8A-8C, the user may be rewarded by (i)being provided with a certain virtual medal or trophy for uploading avideo to his online portal and/or updating a blog or posting on theonline portal; or (ii) having his avatar added to (or maintained in) agroup image. In such embodiments, process 1200 may include step 1214,which comprises tracking a user's activities and/or content of theuser's online portal to determine whether the benchmarks or activitygoals have been satisfied by the user.

In step 1216, a user's avatar (e.g., an avatar's appearance, such as amedal or insignia on the avatar's uniform or other apparel) and/or avirtual location associated with the avatar may be updated based on theinformation tracked in 1212 and/or 1214. For example, if a user has meta financial goal of the fundraising or awareness campaign (e.g., atleast X products have been sold to benefit the third party organizationvia the user's online portal), a virtual room may be updated to includea virtual trophy in a trophy case. In another example, if the user hasuploaded a video to the online portal, the user's avatar may be modifiedsuch that the avatar's apparel now includes a badge or medal earned bythe user.

It should be understood that tracking the user's progress towards one ormore goals of the campaign and rewarding the user for meeting suchgoals, as well as tracking and rewarding the user for improving theeffectiveness or content of an online portal, may be an effectivemechanism for motivating the user to continue to exert efforts towardspromoting the campaign on behalf of the organization. It should furtherbe understood that rewards having real-world value (e.g, monetary value)or which are otherwise tangible in the off-line world may be usedinstead of or in addition to the virtual rewards described herein. Forexample, a user may earn items or monetary prizes which may be shippedor otherwise provided to the user.

As described herein, in some embodiments the User Fundraising Servicemay further facilitate financial aspects of the user's promotion of afundraising campaign. For example, as described herein, the onlineportal may allow individuals invited by the user to make monetarydonations and/or purchase products or services. In such embodiments,process 1200 or another process may include steps directed towardstracking, managing and facilitating such financial aspects. For example,the User Fundraising Service may be operable to (i) receive funds froman individual via a user's online portal (e.g., a monetary donation or aprice paid for a product); (ii) charge an individual's credit, debit orother financial account; (iii) forward collected funds to a financialaccount of the user, the organization, a local chapter or sub-group ofthe organization, a fulfillment or shipping entity for providing theproducts to the individuals who ordered them; and (iv) store dataindicative of such donations or orders completed via the online portalsof users participating in the services of the User Fundraising Service.

In accordance with some embodiments, an individual who completes atransaction via a user's customized online portal which comprises apurchase of a physical product that is to be provided to the individual,the user may be provided with a choice as to how the user would preferto obtain the product. For example, as described herein, in someembodiments the user may be allowed to request that the product beshipped to the user (in which case the user may provide shippinginformation and, in some embodiments provide a payment for theshipping). In other embodiments, the user may be allowed to elect topick up the product at a location near the user. For example, in someembodiments the product may comprise a product offered for sale by alocal merchant (e.g., local to a location of the individual purchasingthe product) and an indication of the individual's purchase may betransmitted (e.g., by the User Fundraising Service) to the localmerchant so that the individual may pick up the product at his/herconvenience. In one embodiment, the individual may (in addition oralternately to the indication of the purchase being transmitted to thelocal merchant) be provided with an identifier (e.g., in the form of avoucher, coupon, barcode or otherwise), which when presented at thelocal merchant authorizes the individual to take possession of theappropriate product. In one embodiment, the third-party organizationassociated with the campaign in support of which the product is beingpurchased may operate a local place of business (which may or may notnormally be operable to sell or provide the product(s) being offered forsale via the user's customized online portal). In such an embodiment, anindividual who purchases the product via the user's customized onlineportal may be allowed to select such a local place of business of theorganization as the preferred location for picking up or takingpossession of the product. Thus, in some embodiments, local places ofbusiness of the organization may be re-purposed for allowing purchasersof products purchased in support of the organization's fundraisingcampaign to have the products shipped to the local places of businessand picked up by the purchasers.

Referring now to FIG. 13, illustrated therein is flowchart of an exampleprocess 1300 that is consistent with some embodiments. Process 1300illustrates one proves via which a campaign organizer (e.g., arepresentative of a school group or team, a scout troop, a sports teamor other organization in need of fundraising) can create a customizedfundraising campaign using resources provided by the Fundraising Server110. The process 1300 is initiated upon a request to generate a newfundraising campaign being received (1302). In some embodiments, anorganizer who has previously created a fundraising campaign usingFundraising Server 110 may enter his previously established accountcredentials and thereby access data previously provided by the organizer(e.g., logos or other marketing data previously provided by theorganizer for use in campaigns to benefit the third party organization;bank account information identifying an account to which proceeds from afundraising campaign should be transmitted; information on a pool ofpotential participants, etc.).

In order to generate a new campaign (e.g., process and store datarelevant to the campaign, to be provided to participants who want toparticipate in the campaign), the Fundraising Server 110 collectscertain data from an organizer of the campaign. In accordance with someembodiments, such data is collected by outputting to the organizer amenu of choices in various categories and allowing the organizer to makeselections. In some embodiments, the User Fundraising Service describedherein (or employees thereof) perform the preliminary work of obtainingvarious available choices for campaigns, such as a wide variety of itemsthat can be sold by participants of the campaign so that a campaignorganizer need not go to different companies to initiate fundraisingcampaigns (e.g., a first company if the organizer wants to sellmagazines during the campaign, a second company if the organizer wantsto sell wrapping paper during the campaign, a third company if theorganizer wants to sell plants during the campaign, etc.). The UserFundraising Service described herein is operable, in some embodiments,to sign contracts or agreements with a wide variety of companies thatoffer a wide variety of items for sale and thus allow campaignorganizers many different choices for what to sell during a campaignwithout needing to deal with a different company each time the organizerdecides to sell a different product as part of a fundraising campaign.Thus, for example, in step 1304 the various sale item options may beoutput to the organizer and selections of the organizer received. Inaccordance with some embodiments, a campaign organizer can mix and matchitems from different source companies when creating a campaign, thusproviding further flexibility and sales opportunities to the campaign.

Various sponsor options for the campaign may also be output to theorganizer and the organizer's selections received (1306). As describedherein, in some embodiments a company may be interested in serving as asponsor for fundraising campaigns (e.g., by donating to the campaign orproviding rewards to participants who satisfy sales goals of thecampaign) in exchange for having its logo(s) or brand(s) used in thecampaign (e.g., on apparel worn by a user's avatar, as part of an emojia user uses in his/her marketing messages promoting the campaign, in thevirtual room of a user's avatar, etc.). As with items available for saleduring a campaign, in some embodiments a User Fundraising Service may dothe necessary background work to enter agreements with various sponsors(including agreeing to the terms by which a campaign must abide by whenselecting a particular sponsor for their campaign) so that a campaignorganizer need only pick an available sponsor from a menu of availablesponsors rather than having to negotiate and enter a sponsorshipagreement with a sponsor company.

The campaign organizer then selects the one or more rewards that may bemade available to participants who participate in a campaign (users whosell items during the campaign for the benefit of the third partyorganization with which the campaign organizer is affiliated; 1308). Insome embodiments, the available rewards that a campaign organizer may beable to choose from may be based at least in part on at least one of theitems the organizer has selected to have sold during the campaign (1304)or the sponsor (if any) that the organizer selected for the campaign(1306). As with the items available for sale and the sponsoropportunities, the User Fundraising Service may have entered intovarious agreements with a wide variety of companies that provide itemsthat may be offered as rewards to campaign participants, to allow for awide variety of choices to offer to a campaign organizer. In someembodiments, as described herein, rewards may not be tangible items butmay rather by virtual rewards (e.g., virtual trophies to be added to avirtual room of a user's avatar, virtual patches to be added to a user'savatar, a user's avatar being added to a virtual group image, etc.). Amenu of reward options may be output to the campaign organizer and thecampaign organizer can select one or more of these options.

In step 1310, data regarding potential or qualified participants for thecampaign is received. This data may be entered by the campaign organizerfor the first time or retrieved from a memory based on previouscampaigns the campaign organizer has created using the User FundraisingService. For example, criteria defining a qualified user may be enteredor otherwise retrieved (e.g., a qualified user must be a registeredmember of the troop comprising the third party organization, mustprovide a qualifying password, etc.). In another example, names and/orcontact information defining qualified potential participants may beentered or retrieved.

Finally, in step 1312, marketing data of the third party organizationmay be received or retrieved from memory based on one or more previouscampaigns the organizer has created. For example, logos, graphics orother files representing the third party organization (for use inmarketing communication to be created by participants of the campaign)may be uploaded or retrieved.

In step 1314, the campaign is generated and an invitation is created forpotential participants. For example, a record for the campaign iscompleted and stored (e.g., under a unique campaign identifier) suchthat the selections made by the campaign organizer and the marketingcontent provided by the campaign organizer are stored and made availablefor users who participate in the campaign. For example, the data may beused to output menu choices to users who participate in the campaign andare creating their customized online portal and/or customized avatar,for tracking whether a user has earned a reward, for determining whethera user's avatar should be updated (e.g., to show a badge or patch orother virtual reward), for determining whether a virtual room of aparticular avatar should be updated (e.g., to show a virtual trophy oradd/fade an avatar from a group image) and to communicate informationabout progress in the campaign to the campaign organizer. The invitationto participate in the campaign may be sent directly to potentialparticipants by the system (e.g., e-mails may be sent to e-mailaddresses provided by the organizer) or a custom link or URL may beoutput to the organizer, who may then in turn use the link tocommunicate the campaign to potential participants.

It should be understood that the above are merely examples ofembodiments and should not be interpreted in a limiting fashion.Modifications and alterations to one or more methods described hereincould be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. For example, while embodiments described herein havereferences a “volunteer” workforce, it should be noted that none of theembodiments require that the user on whose behalf an online portaland/or avatar is customized is a volunteer of the organization for whichthe user is participating in a fundraising or awareness campaign. Inanother example, in some embodiments, a user may comprise a minor. Insuch embodiments, a parent or guardian of the user may be involved inhelping the user provide content or information for use in customizingan avatar of the user and a customized online portal of the user. Inanother embodiment, the fundraising service and/or the User FundraisingService may be operable to support or facilitate additionalfunctionality for helping a user promote a fundraising or awarenesscampaign of an organization. For example, the User Fundraising Servicemay be operable to facilitate a user in scheduling and/or hosting awebinar for individuals within their personal network, in which webinarthe user may have an opportunity to “pitch” them on participating in theorganization's fundraiser. In particular, such embodiments may includefunctionality which the User Fundraising Service may provide a user withtools for (i) scheduling a webinar and invite friends and family(through an email upload) to participate during a specific time and datevia an email; (ii) hosting a webinar and present a compelling pitchusing suggested scripted language; (iii) upon a completion of a webinar,generating an e-mail to all participants of the webinar with a link tothe user's online portal; and (iv) referencing in such an e-mail thewebinar and specific goals mentioned during the webinar. In someembodiments, a user may be provided with an opportunity to include arecording of such a webinar (or portion of it) as a video or audio fileposted in their online portal. In another example, a user's avatar maybe utilized in other mediums other than e-mails, other marketing contentfor a fundraising campaign or in a customized online portal forpromoting a fundraising campaign. For example, the User FundraisingService may be operable to transfer or allow access to a user's avatar(e.g., with the user's permission) for use in mobile apps or games thatare compatible with use of the avatar.

Rules of Interpretation

Numerous embodiments have been described, and are presented forillustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not intendedto be limiting in any sense. The invention is widely applicable tonumerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure herein.These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable thoseskilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understoodthat other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical,software, electrical and other changes may be made without departingfrom the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, those skilled inthe art will recognize that the present invention may be practiced withvarious modifications and alterations. Although particular features ofthe present invention may be described with reference to one or moreparticular embodiments or figures that form a part of the presentdisclosure, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specificembodiments of the invention, it should be understood that such featuresare not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments orfigures with reference to which they are described. The presentdisclosure is thus neither a literal description of all embodiments ofthe invention nor a listing of features of the invention that must bepresent in all embodiments.

The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “theembodiment”, “the embodiments”, “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “anexample embodiment”, “at least one embodiment”, “one or moreembodiments” and “one embodiment” mean “one or more (but not necessarilyall) embodiments of the present invention(s)” unless expressly specifiedotherwise. The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereofmean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The term “consisting of” and variations thereof mean “including andlimited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of theitems are mutually exclusive. The enumerated listing of items does notimply that any or all of the items are collectively exhaustive ofanything, unless expressly specified otherwise. The enumerated listingof items does not imply that the items are ordered in any manneraccording to the order in which they are enumerated.

The term “comprising at least one of” followed by a listing of itemsdoes not imply that a component or subcomponent from each item in thelist is required. Rather, it means that one or more of the items listedmay comprise the item specified. For example, if it is said “wherein Acomprises at least one of: a, b and c” it is meant that (i) A maycomprise a, (ii) A may comprise b, (iii) A may comprise c, (iv) A maycomprise a and b, (v) A may comprise a and c, (vi) A may comprise b andc, or (vii) A may comprise a, b and c.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

The term “based on” means “based at least on”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

The methods described herein (regardless of whether they are referred toas methods, processes, algorithms, calculations, and the like)inherently include one or more steps. Therefore, all references to a“step” or “steps” of such a method have antecedent basis in the mererecitation of the term ‘method’ or a like term. Accordingly, anyreference in a claim to a ‘step’ or ‘steps’ of a method is deemed tohave sufficient antecedent basis.

Headings of sections provided in this document and the title are forconvenience only, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure inany way.

Devices that are in communication with each other need not be incontinuous communication with each other, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. In addition, devices that are in communication with eachother may communicate directly or indirectly through one or moreintermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components in communicationwith each other does not imply that all such components are required, orthat each of the disclosed components must communicate with every othercomponent. On the contrary a variety of optional components aredescribed to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of thepresent invention.

Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the likemay be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods andalgorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In otherwords, any sequence or order of steps that may be described in thisdocument does not, in and of itself, indicate a requirement that thesteps be performed in that order. The steps of processes describedherein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps maybe performed simultaneously despite being described or implied asoccurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described afterthe other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by itsdepiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process isexclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not implythat the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to theinvention, and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred.

It will be readily apparent that the various methods and algorithmsdescribed herein may be implemented by, e.g., appropriately programmedgeneral purpose computers and computing devices. Typically a processor(e.g., a microprocessor or controller device) will receive instructionsfrom a memory or like storage device, and execute those instructions,thereby performing a process defined by those instructions. Further,programs that implement such methods and algorithms may be stored andtransmitted using a variety of known media.

When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readilyapparent that more than one device/article (whether or not theycooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly,where more than one device or article is described herein (whether ornot they cooperate), it will be readily apparent that a singledevice/article may be used in place of the more than one device orarticle.

The functionality and/or the features of a device may be alternativelyembodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly describedas having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of thepresent invention need not include the device itself.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any mediumthat participates in providing data (e.g., instructions) that may beread by a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may takemany forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatilemedia, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example,optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile mediamay include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typicallyconstitutes the main memory. Transmission media may include coaxialcables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires or otherpathways that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor.Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves andelectromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during radiofrequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms ofcomputer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexibledisk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM,DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any otherphysical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, aFLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave asdescribed hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer canread.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carryingsequences of instructions to a processor. For example, sequences ofinstruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a processor, (ii) may becarried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii) may beformatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such asTransmission Control Protocol, Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Wi-Fi,Bluetooth, TDMA, CDMA, and 3G.

Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to thosedescribed may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structuresbesides databases may be readily employed. Any schematic illustrationsand accompanying descriptions of any sample databases presented hereinare illustrative arrangements for stored representations of information.Any number of other arrangements may be employed besides those suggestedby the tables shown. Similarly, any illustrated entries of the databasesrepresent exemplary information only; those skilled in the art willunderstand that the number and content of the entries can be differentfrom those illustrated herein. Further, despite any depiction of thedatabases as tables, other formats (including relational databases,object-based models and/or distributed databases) could be used to storeand manipulate the data types described herein. Likewise, object methodsor behaviors of a database can be used to implement the processes of thepresent invention. In addition, the databases may, in a known manner, bestored locally or remotely from a device that accesses data in such adatabase.

For example, as an example alternative to a database structure forstoring information, a hierarchical electronic file folder structure maybe used. A program may then be used to access the appropriateinformation in an appropriate file folder in the hierarchy based on afile path named in the program.

It should also be understood that, to the extent that any term recitedin the claims is referred to elsewhere in this document in a mannerconsistent with a single meaning, that is done for the sake of clarityonly, and it is not intended that any such term be so restricted, byimplication or otherwise, to that single meaning.

In a claim, a limitation of the claim which includes the phrase “meansfor” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6,applies to that limitation.

In a claim, a limitation of the claim which does not include the phrase“means for” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. § 112,paragraph 6 does not apply to that limitation, regardless of whetherthat limitation recites a function without recitation of structure,material or acts for performing that function. For example, in a claim,the mere use of the phrase “step of” or the phrase “steps of” inreferring to one or more steps of the claim or of another claim does notmean that 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6, applies to that step(s).

With respect to a means or a step for performing a specified function inaccordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6, the correspondingstructure, material or acts described in the specification, andequivalents thereof, may perform additional functions as well as thespecified function.

Computers, processors, computing devices and like products arestructures that can perform a wide variety of functions. Such productscan be operable to perform a specified function by executing one or moreprograms, such as a program stored in a memory device of that product orin a memory device which that product accesses. Unless expresslyspecified otherwise, such a program need not be based on any particularalgorithm, such as any particular algorithm that might be disclosed inthe present application. It is well known to one of ordinary skill inthe art that a specified function may be implemented via differentalgorithms, and any of a number of different algorithms would be a meredesign choice for carrying out the specified function.

Therefore, with respect to a means or a step for performing a specifiedfunction in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6, structurecorresponding to a specified function includes any product programmed toperform the specified function. Such structure includes programmedproducts which perform the function, regardless of whether such productis programmed with (i) a disclosed algorithm for performing thefunction, (ii) an algorithm that is similar to a disclosed algorithm, or(iii) a different algorithm for performing the function.

CONCLUSION

While various embodiments have been described herein, it should beunderstood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to theparticular embodiments explicitly described. Many other variations andembodiments would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art uponreading the present description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for generating customized online storesfor facilitating users' efforts to support a third party organization,comprising: receiving, by an online portal generating controllercomprising at least one processor and operable to communicate with athird party marketing content server and a plurality of user devices andfrom a first user device of a first user, a first request to generate afirst customized online store that features a customized avatar of thefirst user and comprises a plurality of web pages, each of the pluralityof web pages being customized by the online portal generating controllerfor the first user; receiving, by the online portal generatingcontroller and from a second user device of a second user, a secondrequest to generate a second customized online store that features acustomized avatar of the second user and comprises a plurality of webpages, each of the plurality of web pages being customized by the onlineportal generating controller for the second user; receiving, over anetwork and from the first user device of the first user, first data forcustomizing each of the first customized online store and the customizedavatar of the first user, the first customized online store being forselling at least one product to at least one recipient associated withat least the first user, wherein a purchase of the at least one productis for a benefit to the third party organization; receiving, over thenetwork and from the second user device of the second user, second datafor customizing each of the second customized online store and theavatar of the second user, the second customized online store being forselling the at least one product to at least one recipient associatedwith at least the second user; generating the customized avatar of thefirst user using the first data received from the first user device;generating the customized avatar of the second user using the seconddata received from the second user device; generating for the first usera first customized online store comprising a first plurality of webpages by using the first data received from the first user device, thegenerating including placing the customized avatar of the first userinto the first customized online store, wherein the first customizedonline store includes purchasing functionality on at least one of thefirst plurality of web page and includes the customized avatar of thefirst user throughout more than one of the first plurality of web pages;generating for the second user a second customized online storecomprising a second plurality of web pages by using the second datareceived from the second user device, the generating including placingthe customized avatar of the second user into the second customizedonline store, wherein the second customized online store includespurchasing functionality on at least one of the second plurality of webpages and includes the customized avatar of the second user throughoutmore than one of the second plurality of web pages; generating a firstunique URL that serves as an online address to the first customizedonline store; transmitting, over the network, the first unique URL tothe at least one recipient associated with the first user and on behalfof the first user and the third party organization; generating a secondunique URL that serves as an online address to the second customizedonline store; transmitting, over the network, the second unique URL tothe at least one recipient associated with the second user and on behalfof the second user and the third party organization; selling, throughthe first customized online store, a first item to the at least onerecipient associated with the first user; and selling, through thesecond customized online store, the first item to the at least onerecipient associated with the second user.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising: receiving, over the network and from the marketingcontent server of the third party organization, third data that isproprietary marketing content of the third party organization, andwherein the marketing content is used in at least one of generating thecustomized avatar for the first user, generating the customized avatarfor the second user, generating the first customized online store andgenerating the second customized online store.
 3. The method of claim 1,further comprising: generating a first e-mail message to be transmittedto the at least one recipient associated with the first user, the firste-mail message including an image of the customized avatar of the firstuser; and generating a second e-mail message to be transmitted to the atleast one recipient associated with the second user, the second e-mailmessage including an image of the customized avatar of the second user.4. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises:determining that the at least one recipient associated with the firstuser has made a purchase of the at least one product via the firstcustomized online store; crediting the purchase towards a goalassociated with the first user; and forwarding an indication of thepurchase to the third party organization.
 5. The method of claim 4,further comprising: updating, based on at least the purchase, a storedindication of virtual awards earned by the first user; and updating avisual representation of the virtual awards earned by the first user,which virtual representation is viewable online by at least the firstuser.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the virtual representationcomprises a uniform worn by the customized avatar of the first user,such that updating the visual representation of the virtual awardsearned by the first user comprises at least one of adding and modifyinga representation of at least one virtual award on the uniform.
 7. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the virtual representation comprises agraphic representation of a virtual location associated with thecustomized avatar of the first user, such that updating the virtualrepresentation of the virtual awards earned by the first user comprisesat least one of adding and modifying a representation of a virtual awardin the virtual location.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the virtuallocation comprises a virtual room in which the customized avatar of thefirst user is depicted.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:generating for a customized online portal associated with the firstcustomized online store and the first user, using at least the firstdata received from the first user device: a representation of a virtualroom for the customized avatar of the first user; and a virtual photofor output in the virtual room, the virtual photo including arepresentation of at least the customized avatar of the first user. 10.The method of claim 9, further comprising: modifying the virtual phototo include a representation of the customized avatar of the second user.11. The method of claim 12, wherein a visual status of the customizedavatar of the second user within the group photo is based on a progressof the second user towards satisfying at least one predeterminedcriteria for supporting the third party organization.
 12. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first data further comprises at least one of amessage typed in by the first user, a video uploaded by the first user,an image uploaded by the first user and a financial goal set by thefirst user; and wherein the second data further comprises at least oneof a message typed in by the second user, a video uploaded by the seconduser, an image uploaded by the second user and a financial goal set bythe second user.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the third datacomprises at least one of a logo owned by the third party organization,a uniform worn by members of the third party organization, a trademarkowned by the third party organization and membership information of thethird party organization.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein theprocessor is further operable to; facilitate the design of physicalmerchandise bearing a representation of at least one of the customizedavatar of the first user and the customized avatar of the second user;and output to at least one of the first user and the second user anopportunity to purchase such physical merchandise.
 15. A system forgenerating customized online stores for facilitating users' efforts tosupport a third party organization, comprising: a processor of an onlineportal generating controller, wherein the online portal generatingcontroller is in communication with a third party marketing contentserver and a plurality of user devices; a memory storing a program fordirecting the processor of the online portal generating controller, theprocessor being operable with the program to: receive from a first usera first request to generate a first customized online store thatfeatures a customized avatar of the first user and comprises a pluralityof web pages, each of the plurality of web pages being customized by theonline portal generating controller for the first user; receive from asecond user a second request to generate a second customized onlinestore that features a customized avatar of the second user and comprisesa plurality of web pages, each of the plurality of web pages beingcustomized by the online portal generating controller for the seconduser; receive, over a network and from a first user device of the firstuser, first data for customizing each of the first customized onlinestore and the customized avatar of the first user, the first customizedonline store being for selling at least one product to at least onerecipient associated with at least the first user, wherein a purchase ofthe at least one product is for a benefit to the third partyorganization; receive, over the network and from a second user device ofthe second user, second data for customizing each of the secondcustomized online store and the customized avatar of the second user,the second customized online store being for selling the at least oneproduct to at least one recipient associated with at least the seconduser; generate the customized avatar of the first user using the firstdata received from the first user device; generate the customized avatarof the second user using the second data received from the second userdevice; generate for the first user a first customized online storecomprising a first plurality of web pages by using the first datareceived from the first user device, the generating including placingthe customized avatar of the first user into the first customized onlinestore, wherein the first customized online store includes purchasingfunctionality on at least one of the first plurality of web page andincludes the customized avatar of the first user throughout more thanone of the first plurality of web pages; generate for the second user asecond customized online store comprising a second plurality of webpages by using the second data received from the second user device, thegenerating including placing the customized avatar of the second userinto the second customized online store, wherein the second customizedonline store includes purchasing functionality on at least one of thesecond plurality of web pages and includes the customized avatar of thesecond user throughout more than one of the second plurality of webpages; generate a first unique URL that serves as an online address tothe first customized online store; transmit, over the network, the firstunique URL to the at least one recipient associated with the first userand on behalf of the first user and the third party organization;generate a second unique URL that serves as an online address to thesecond customized online store; transmit, over the network, the secondunique URL to the at least one recipient associated with the second userand on behalf of the second user and the third party organization sell,through the first customized online store, a first item to the at leastone recipient associated with the first user; and sell, through thesecond customized online store, the first item to the at least onerecipient associated with the second user.
 16. The system of claim 15,wherein the processor is further operable with the program to: receive,over the network and from the marketing content server of the thirdparty organization, third data that is proprietary marketing content ofthe third party organization, and wherein the marketing content is usedin at least one of generating the customized avatar for the first user,generating the customized avatar for the second user, generating thefirst customized online store and generating the second customizedonline store.
 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor isfurther operable with the program to generate for a first customizedonline portal associated with the first customized online store and thefirst user, using at least the first data received from the first userdevice: a representation of a virtual room for the customized avatar ofthe first user; and a virtual photo for output in the virtual room, thevirtual photo including a representation of at least the customizedavatar of the first user.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein theprocessor is further operable with the program to: modify the virtualphoto to include a representation of the customized avatar of the seconduser.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is furtheroperable with the program to: modify a visual status of the customizedavatar of the second user within the group photo based on a progress ofthe second user towards satisfying at least one predetermined criteriafor supporting the third party organization.
 20. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storing instructions for directing a processorto generate customized online stores to facilitate users' efforts tosupport a third party organization, the instructions when executed bythe processor causing the processor to: receive, by an online portalgenerating controller comprising at least one processor and operable tocommunicate with a third party marketing content server and a pluralityof user devices and from a first user device of a first user, a firstrequest to generate a first customized online store that features acustomized avatar of the first user and comprises a plurality of webpages, each of the plurality of web pages being customized by the onlineportal generating controller for the first user; receive, by the onlineportal generating controller and from a second user device of a seconduser, a second request to generate a second customized online store thatfeatures a customized avatar of the second user and comprises aplurality of web pages, each of the plurality of web pages beingcustomized by the online portal generating controller for the seconduser; receive, over a network and from the first user device of thefirst user, first data for customizing each of the first customizedonline store and the customized avatar of the first user, the firstcustomized online store being for selling at least one product to atleast one recipient associated with at least the first user, wherein apurchase of the at least one product is for a benefit to the third partyorganization; receive, over the network and from the second user deviceof the second user, second data for customizing each of the secondcustomized online store and the customized avatar of the second user,the second customized online store being for selling the at least oneproduct to at least one recipient associated with at least the seconduser; generate the customized avatar of the first user using the firstdata received from the first user device; generate the customized avatarof the second user using the second data received from the second userdevice; generate for the first user a first customized online storecomprising a first plurality of web pages by using the first datareceived from the first user device, the generating including placingthe customized avatar of the first user into the first customized onlinestore, wherein the first customized online store includes purchasingfunctionality on at least one of the first plurality of web page andincludes the customized avatar of the first user throughout more thanone of the first plurality of web pages; generate for the second user asecond customized online store comprising a second plurality of webpages by using the second data received from the second user device, thegenerating including placing the customized avatar of the second userinto the second customized online store, wherein the second customizedonline store includes purchasing functionality on at least one of thesecond plurality of web pages and includes the customized avatar of thesecond user throughout more than one of the second plurality of webpages; generate a first unique URL that serves as an online address tothe first customized online store; transmit, over the network, the firstunique URL to the at least one recipient associated with the first userand on behalf of the first user and the third party organization;generate a second unique URL that serves as an online address to thesecond customized online store; transmit, over the network, the secondunique URL to the at least one recipient associated with the second userand on behalf of the second user and the third party organization; sell,through the first customized online store, a first item to the at leastone recipient associated with the first user; and sell, through thesecond customized online store, the first item to the at least onerecipient associated with the second user.
 21. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 19, the instructions further causingthe processor to: receive, over the network and from the marketingcontent server of the third party organization, third data that isproprietary marketing content of the third party organization, whereinthe marketing content is used in at least one of generating thecustomized avatar for the first user, generating the customized avatarfor the second user, generating the first customized online store andgenerating the second customized online store.
 22. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 19, the instructions further causingthe processor to generate for a first customized online portalassociated with the first customized online store and the first user,using at least the first data received from the first user device: arepresentation of a virtual room for the customized avatar of the firstuser; and a virtual photo for output in the virtual room, the virtualphoto including a representation of at least the customized avatar ofthe first user.
 23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim19, the instructions further causing the processor to: receive, over thenetwork and from the marketing content server of the third partyorganization, third data that is proprietary marketing content of thethird party organization, wherein the marketing content is used togenerate at least one of the representation of the virtual room and thevirtual photo.
 24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim23, the instructions further causing the processor to: modify thevirtual photo to include a representation of the customized avatar ofthe second user.
 25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 23, the instructions further causing the processor to: modify avisual status of the customized avatar of the second user within thegroup photo based on a progress of the at least one second user towardssatisfying at least one predetermined criteria for supporting the thirdparty organization.